According to the Vietnam Coal and Minerals Industry Trade Union (TKV Trade Union), the quantitative meal allowance is mainly for those working in underground mines, with each meal costing 65,000 VND per worker. The above amount is allocated by units for main meals from 40,000 VND to 55,000 VND per person; mid-shift meals from 10,000 VND to 25,000 VND per person; and post-shift drinks from 2,000 VND to 7,000 VND per person.
Currently, the total number of workers receiving quantitative meals is 39,154 people, equivalent to 1,216,788 quantitative meals per month, with a total amount of nearly 80 trillion VND.
Main meals are eaten in the form of self-service (most eaten at the beginning of shift 1; beginning of shift 2 and end of shift 3). Mid-shift meals are eaten with rice boxes, bread, milk, and nutritious porridge. Units create menus for 7 days a week, thus preventing duplicate dishes, and the menu usually varies from 15 to 22 dishes.
Meanwhile, the shift meal allowance is for those working on the ground, including those working at open-pit coal mines.
According to the TKV Trade Union, the total number of people receiving this allowance is 56,332 people, with a rate of 26,000 VND to 28,000 VND per worker.
In addition to the above allowances, some groups of workers also receive hazardous and heavy labor allowances in kind. Currently, the entire group has 74,392 workers receiving this allowance. There are 12 units that provide in-kind benefits at the beginning of the shift, such as milk, bread, etc.; 13 units incorporate the allowance into daily shift meals, and the remaining amount is used to provide additional in-kind benefits: milk, sugar, cooking oil, soy sauce, instant noodles, etc. at the end of the month.
However, according to the representative of the Vietnam Coal Corporation's Trade Union, the Vietnam Coal and Minerals Industry Group (TKV) needs to research to increase the shift meal allowance for workers in the context of increasing market prices, in order to improve quality, ensure quantity, thereby increasing nutrition, energy, and improving the health of workers.
The representative of the Nui Beo Coal Joint Stock Company Trade Union requested that TKV propose to relevant ministries, branches, and departments to have policies to increase the cost of quantitative meal allowances for coal miners, as the quantitative meal allowance for coal miners, including 2 meals, has remained at 65,000 VND per worker since 2021, while food prices have increased.
