Escape from warehouse and boarding house
Recently, the Kien Giang Provincial Federation of Labor (FLD) handed over the Trade Union Shelter to union member Tran Thanh Tam - Honda Bus Station Union of Kien Giang Province under the Chau Thanh District Federation of Labor. Mr. Tam said that the old house was dilapidated and severely damaged, and his family always dreamed of having money to repair it. However, with a meager income of about 3 million VND/month, he could not make ends meet.
“I currently have two young children in school, and my wife is a housewife, so she has no income. With the Union’s support of 50 million VND to build a house, we now have a new, spacious house and a stable life. I am very happy because this Tet, I have a decent house, I am happier and can work with more peace of mind,” said Mr. Tam.
Mr. Nguyen Hung Linh - a member of the grassroots trade union of the Urban Construction Company, a member of Kien Giang Construction Investment Consulting Group Joint Stock Company - said that before working in the company's transportation service team, he worked as a bricklayer and a freelance porter, so his income was unstable. The house has been the dream of him and his wife for many years.
Mr. Linh and his wife have a 6-year-old child and have been renting in Vinh Lac Ward, Rach Gia City for nearly 7 years to go to work. His wife is in poor health, so in addition to taking care of the child, she works as a janitor for a restaurant but her income is not much. Mr. Linh has worked at the company for 4 years, earning about 5.5 million VND/month. Although he has saved for many years, he still does not have enough to build a small house.
“For many years, my family has been renting for more than 1 million VND/month, while raising school-age children. My wife’s parents gave us a small plot of land in the alley, but we still didn’t have enough money to build a house. Thanks to the Union’s support of 50 million VND and my wife and I borrowing more, we were able to build a house with a total cost of 120 million VND. My wife and I are very happy because from now on we no longer have to pay monthly rent and can go to work with peace of mind to take care of our children’s education,” said Mr. Linh.
Or union member Bui Thi Anh Quyen (residing in Hon Dat district, Kien Giang province) has worked at the Hon Dat water supply branch for 7 years. Previously, Ms. Quyen lived in the water supply branch's warehouse, her monthly income was just enough to take care of her 2 young children and cover her family's living expenses, so she still faced many difficulties and shortages.
Receiving the new house, Ms. Quyen could not hide her joy and emotion. Ms. Quyen shared that having a stable house and taking better care of her children has been her dream for a long time, no longer living in a warehouse like before.
2025 support to build new houses and repair at least 58 houses
The Kien Giang Provincial Federation of Labor said that among the programs to care for union members and workers, the Trade Union Shelter is a very meaningful program. Especially during the spring, the new, spacious houses help union members celebrate the New Year in abundance, fullness, and happiness.
Ms. Truong Thanh Thuy - President of the Kien Giang Provincial Federation of Labor - said: In 2024, the Provincial Federation of Labor mobilized union members and businesses to contribute over 7.2 billion VND to the Trade Union Shelter program, including building 69 new houses and repairing 18 houses for union members in difficult circumstances with an amount of 3.9 billion VND, reaching 153% of the set target.
“The Trade Union Shelter is a very meaningful and humane program that has been implemented for many years. Through this, it has supported union members in difficult circumstances to have stable housing, helping them feel secure in their work and stabilize their lives. In 2025, the Provincial Federation of Labor also set a goal of supporting the construction and repair of at least 58 Trade Union Shelter houses for union members in difficult housing situations,” Ms. Truong Thanh Thuy emphasized.
