Ahead of the 11th Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, term 2026 - 2031 taking place on May 11, 12 and 13, many workers want their voices, thoughts and concerns to continue to be heard and reflected more strongly through the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor - an important member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.
Workers expect the Fatherland Front and member organizations, including the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, to continue to promote the role of a bridge between workers and policy-making agencies.
Workers want the voice of workers to be reflected more in issues related to minimum wages, social housing, schools for workers' children and institutions serving spiritual and cultural life.
In the early summer sun, Ms. Nguyen Thi Trang's rented room of about 15m2 in Hau Duong village, Thien Loc commune, Hanoi is packed with belongings. The small bed is placed close to the wall, the kitchen corner is just enough for one person to stand and cook...
That is the living place of 4 people including Ms. Trang and her husband, her elderly mother-in-law and young child.
More than 10 years working as an electronic component assembly worker at Thang Long Industrial Park, Ms. Trang has become accustomed to the rhythm of overtime life, saving every penny. But what worries her the most is not only the cramped life, but the feeling of always running out even though both husband and wife are working.
As soon as the salary comes in, all expenses are divided, almost no money left" - Ms. Trang said.
In addition to the rent of 1.5 million VND per month, her family also has to spend money on food and medicine for her elderly mother, raising young children in Hanoi, and sending money back to her hometown for her grandparents to take care of their eldest child. Recently, life has become even more stressful as the family continuously has to borrow money to compensate for incurred expenses.
Just because my child is sick, it's considered a month of hardship. If there are no unexpected expenses, it's just enough to live on" - she shared with a low voice.
What she wished for before the Congress was not something too big. She only hoped that the worker's salary would be enough to live on, even to have some savings in case of an emergency.
Workers work all day, the most desired thing is a stable income to raise children. I also hope that near the industrial park there will be more cheap kindergartens, schools, and playgrounds so that I can welcome my older children to live with my family" - she said.
According to Ms. Trang, many workers are now forced to send their children to their hometowns because they do not have enough conditions to rent a larger house or send their children to study in the city. This has caused many families to live far apart for many years.
Sharing the same feeling, Mr. Nguyen Van Tai - a worker producing motorcycle parts in Hanoi - said that his family of 4 is living in a rented room of about 15m2 with a rent of 1.2 million VND/month.
The small space makes daily life inconvenient, especially in the hot summer. The two young children do not have a place to play and study, and the couple is always worried every time it rains heavily and the rented room is degraded.
What I want most is to have more social housing for workers to rent at a reasonable price so that my family has a better living environment" - Mr. Tai expressed.
According to him, workers currently need not only jobs but also an accompanying social security ecosystem, from housing, schools to medical and cultural services. When life is more stable, workers can be assured to work for a long time.
Many workers believe that what they need is not only short-term support, but long-term policies to be able to settle down and stick with businesses and the city.
When workers are assured of their lives, they will wholeheartedly work and contribute" - Mr. Tai said.
