Salaries and insurance are still a major concern
Slow payment of salaries, overtime pay and bonuses are still a concern for many workers in Ca Mau.
At the Forum "Listening to union members and workers speak" in 2026, Mr. Nguyen Chanh Toan, grassroots trade union of Anh Khoa Co., Ltd. (Tan Thanh ward), proposed that provincial leaders have solutions to protect workers' rights when some businesses have not fully implemented the payment of overtime wages, bonuses or are still slow to pay wages.
Sharing the same concern, union member Trinh Thien Ngoc (Ly Van Lam ward) proposed to strengthen inspection of the implementation of salary policies, bonuses and overtime pay to ensure the legitimate rights of workers.
Answering these two contents, Ms. Tran Yen Hoa - Deputy Director of Ca Mau Department of Home Affairs - said that the payment of salaries, bonuses and overtime salaries is the responsibility of employers according to the provisions of the 2019 Labor Code. In the coming time, the Department of Home Affairs will coordinate with the Provincial Labor Federation, the Economic Zone Management Board and related units to strengthen propaganda and guide businesses to implement regulations correctly; and at the same time promote dialogue and collective negotiation to promptly remove arising problems.
According to Ms. Hoa, in 2026, the Department of Home Affairs will organize inspections of labor law compliance at a number of enterprises, focusing on the implementation of labor contracts, salaries, bonuses, working hours, rest hours, overtime and regimes for employees. Cases of late payment of salaries, improper payment of overtime or violations of legal regulations will be inspected, strictly handled and forced to rectify to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of employees.
One of the issues that received much attention at the forum was the situation of businesses delaying, owing, or evading social insurance contributions.
Union member Pham Trung Linh (An Xuyen ward) said that the fact that businesses owe insurance not only affects immediate benefits but also directly affects the process of resolving sickness, maternity, occupational accident and retirement benefits for workers. He proposed that the province have solutions to definitively handle this situation.
Answering the petition, Mr. Trinh Trung Kien, Deputy Director of Ca Mau Provincial Social Insurance, said that as of June 30, 2026, the total amount of late payment and evasion of social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance in the province was more than 191.3 billion VND. In which, 23 businesses owed for a long time since 2012 with an amount of nearly 112 billion VND, affecting more than 1,600 employees who have not been finalized with insurance books.
More benefits to retain workers
Besides salaries and social insurance, working conditions, welfare and opportunities to improve professional skills are also contents that many union members are interested in.
Union member Lam Ngoc Giao, Trade Union of Ca Mau Seafood Joint Stock Company, reflected that the value of lunch meals at some businesses is still low, menus are not diverse, and nutritional quality does not meet requirements, affecting health and labor productivity.
Accepting this opinion, Ms. Tran Yen Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs, said that the province will coordinate with functional sectors to strengthen inspection of the implementation of regulations on occupational safety and health, and at the same time encourage businesses to improve the quality of lunch meals, considering this as a solution to care for health, improve productivity and retain workers.
Meanwhile, union member Dao Huynh Nga, Trade Union member of Minh Phu Khanh An Seafood Processing Co., Ltd., hopes that the province will pay attention to investing in facilities serving workers such as housing, kindergartens, cultural activity areas, sports areas and welfare projects so that workers can be assured and stick with the business for a long time.
Representatives of the Ca Mau Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the province is continuing to synchronously plan social infrastructure in industrial parks, prioritizing the development of worker accommodation, cultural, sports and essential service facilities. In Khanh An Industrial Park alone, an investor has registered to implement a service area and worker accommodation project with a total capital of about 490 billion VND, contributing to gradually improving the living conditions of workers.
Not only concerned about the immediate life, many workers also want to be equipped with knowledge to adapt to digital transformation requirements.
Union member Luong Thi Y, Trade Union member of Nam Can Seafood Import-Export Joint Stock Company, proposed that the province have free training programs or appropriate costs on information technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital skills for workers to improve productivity and increase income.
Answering this content, Ms. Tran Thi Cam Hang, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, said that the province is implementing the "Digital Literacy Platform", providing free courses on digital skills, AI, digital citizens, online public services and technology application skills in work, creating conditions for workers to learn anytime, anywhere.
Concluding the forum, Chairman of Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee Lu Quang Ngoi requested departments and branches to fully absorb the recommendations of union members and workers; clearly define responsibilities, deadlines for handling each content and regularly dialogue at the grassroots level. Chairman of Ca Mau affirmed that only when concerns about salaries, insurance, welfare and working conditions are resolved promptly will it contribute to building harmonious and stable labor relations, creating motivation for workers to feel secure and attached to the enterprise for a long time.
