When the "milk room" becomes a support for mothers
Working in health and being a member of the Executive Committee of the grassroots Trade Union (CĐCS) for many years at Truong Giang Seafood Joint Stock Company (Sa Dec Industrial Park, Sa Dec ward, Dong Thap province), Ms. Thao understands the pressures that pregnant and raising young children female workers face. They have to both ensure labor productivity, take care of their pregnancy health, and worry about their young children at home.
From that understanding, in May 2025, she advised on establishing the "Pregnant Women and Child Raising Club" - the first model in Dong Thap for female workers in non-state-owned enterprises.
Periodically every month, nearly 70 female workers are consulted by obstetricians and pediatricians of Sa Dec Hospital and Phuong Chau Hospital on pregnancy care, breastfeeding, nutrition and childcare skills.
Not only equipped with knowledge, women also have an additional space to share their concerns in the journey of becoming mothers. Before that, she made a great contribution to the formation of the Breast milk Extraction and Storage Room right at the factory.
Every day, from 35 - 45 female workers come here to squeeze and preserve milk before returning to the production line. That small room not only stores the first drops of milk for workers' children but also shows the practical concern of businesses and trade union organizations for female workers.
Not stopping there, in the past 5 years, Ms. Thao has also directly organized 84 propaganda classes on health care and food safety for more than 7,850 workers; and at the same time coordinated to support 1,418 female union members to have annual periodic gynecological examinations. These seemingly very ordinary activities have contributed to helping workers raise awareness of health protection, feel secure in working and stick with the business.
From lunch to meaningful breakfast
If the "milk room" is a place to preserve the first drops of milk for workers' children, then the Trade Union meal provides more energy for workers to feel secure in sticking with the business.
Realizing that the quality of meals directly affects health and labor productivity, Ms. Thao persistently included the content of improving the quality of shift meals in collective dialogues and negotiations with businesses.
That persistence has brought results when from the beginning of 2024, the value of meals has been increased to 25,000 VND/meal. The menu has also been improved with two savory dishes and one vegetarian dish, helping workers have more suitable choices.
Not only stopping at mid-shift meals, she continues to advise the Trade Union to implement a model of supporting breakfast with a rate of 15,500 VND/portion. Each month, the business spends from 235 to 255 million VND to support thousands of workers to have a full breakfast before starting their shift.
According to many workers, this is a practical model because not everyone has the conditions to prepare a thoughtful breakfast when having to start their shift very early. A hot meal before work not only helps ensure health but also adds energy for the whole day of work.
Ms. Thao and the Executive Committee of the grassroots trade union coordinated with business leaders to maintain and organize more than 50 "Trade Union Meals - Thank you workers", serving more than 5,500 union members with meals worth 55,000 VND, with additional fruits and yogurt for dessert.
Currently, the model continues to be maintained on Saturdays every week, serving more than 2,000 workers and laborers. Cozy meals are not only material care but also a thank you to the laborers who are accompanying the business day and night.
Spread kindness
Ms. To Ngoc Thao's dedication is recognized by many awards. In 2023, she was one of 75 typical individuals nationwide invited by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to attend the two-year preliminary conference to implement Conclusion No. 01-KL/TW of the Politburo on studying and following Ho Chi Minh's thought, morality, and style.
Three professional improvement initiatives recognized consecutively from 2023 to 2025 along with many certificates of merit and certificates of commendation are proof of her spirit of innovation, creativity and responsibility in work.
What she always cherishes most is still the family home. For many consecutive years, her family has achieved the title of Cultural Family; her daughter Do Nhu Ngoc has continuously been an excellent student for 8 years. Her husband, Mr. Do Hieu Nghia, a statistical staff member in the same company, not only excellently completes his work but also shares housework. This solid rear has helped her feel secure in contributing.
Looking back at the journey 2021 - 2026, she and the grassroots trade union mobilized to admit 1,839 new union members; mobilized 958 million VND and more than 52,000 notebooks to award 658 scholarships to children of workers overcoming difficulties; mobilized more than 210 million VND to support workers in difficult circumstances and people affected by natural disasters.
These persistent actions not only contribute to building a humane working environment but also help her family be commended by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor as "National Typical Workers, Civil Servants, and Laborers' Families" in the period 2021 - 2026.
Amidst the production lines that are always operating non-stop, Ms. To Ngoc Thao still quietly keeps the flame of love with very simple actions. From the "milk room" for young mothers to the warm and meaningful Trade Union meal, each initiative sends a simple message: when workers are cared for with the most practical things, they will have more faith, more motivation to stick with the business and the Trade Union organization. That is also the sustainable value that she and the grassroots Trade Union of Truong Giang Seafood Joint Stock Company have been and are persistently nurturing every day.
