The joy of settling down comes to many worker families
Among the thousands of workers who have been supported with the Trade Union Shelter for nearly 20 years, Mr. Kim Dan - a worker at My Phong Leather Shoes Company Limited - has also had a new house after many years of renting.
Mr. Kim Dan said that he has worked at My Phong Company for nearly 17 years, but for many years, his family has struggled to live in a small rented room.
The workers' salary is just enough to cover their expenses, and he and his wife do not dare to think about their own house. In early 2024, the Union supported 50 million VND from the Union Shelter Fund. He borrowed more from relatives to buy land and build a solid house.
"Previously, we spent nearly 1 million VND per month on rent, now that we have a new house, we can save this amount, my wife and I can work with peace of mind, and my children have better learning conditions," Mr. Dan added.
Similarly, Ms. Son Thi Ngoc May - a worker at Yazaki Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Tra Vinh - was also moved when receiving support to build a house.
Previously, her family lived in a dilapidated house, and when it rained, they had to use a bucket to collect water, and their clothes and sleeping places were all damp. Now, she no longer worries about patching the leaves, but can also reserve a stable place for her children to study.
I am very grateful to the Trade Union Shelter Fund. Thanks to this support, the family escaped the leaky house and had a more stable life. I hope the fund will continue to help more workers in difficulty like me before, Ms. May added.
More than 3,300 union shelters to support workers in difficulty
Speaking with Lao Dong, Ms. Vo Thi Thu Oanh - Vice President of the Labor Federation of Vinh Long province - said that from 2006 to present, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh and Ben Tre provinces (before the merger) have supported the construction of 3,314 Trade Union Shelters, with a total amount of more than 101.3 billion VND.
Of which, the Tra Vinh Provincial Federation of Labor supported 1,327 houses with an amount of VND 41.029 billion; the Ben Tre Provincial Federation of Labor supported 547 houses with an amount of VND 16.78 billion; and the Vinh Long Provincial Federation of Labor supported 1,440 houses with an amount of VND 43.522 billion.
"This is a result that shows the close concern of the Trade Union organization in caring for the lives of union members, contributing to helping workers feel secure at work and stay with the enterprise for a long time," Ms. Oanh emphasized.
In 2025 alone, the three provinces have supported 71 houses with an amount of 3.72 billion VND, of which Tra Vinh has 52 houses (2.58 billion VND), Ben Tre has 19 houses (1.14 billion VND, including 7 Trade Union Shelters and 12 Great Unity houses).
According to Ms. Oanh, each house donated not only helps workers' families escape difficulties in housing, but also spreads a sense of humanity, affirming the role of the Union in accompanying union members.
"We will continue to mobilize and mobilize resources so that the Trade Union Shelter Fund can increasingly support workers," Ms. Oanh added.
