Brick making is very hard work, especially the firing stage. This stage is very important. Most kilns are outdated, and the kiln workers have a hard time because of the high temperature and heat. When the bricks are burned to the right temperature, they are cooled and taken out of the kiln. This stage is the hardest for the workers because after cooling, the temperature of the bricks is still 50 degrees Celsius, plus there is a lot of dust, which affects their health. However, the workers' income is still low.
According to a survey by the Nghe An Construction Trade Union, in the first 6 months of 2024, the average salary of workers in these enterprises was VND 5,500,000/person/month, accounting for 90% of workers' income; the remaining amounts such as: shift meal allowance, other support were VND 150,000/person/month. Thus, the average income of workers in these enterprises has not reached VND 6,000,000/person/month.
According to the survey, workers at Tuynel brick manufacturing enterprises are currently very weak in terms of skills and qualifications. The education level as well as professional skills of workers are generally low. About 10% have primary education; 40.5% have secondary education; 45.5% have high school education. 70% of workers have not received vocational training at vocational training institutions (only received short-term training at enterprises), the rest are mainly technical workers with intermediate and college degrees.
There are still some businesses that do not really care about labor safety. Some workers still have to work in cramped, hot, dusty, noisy conditions... Especially in the summer, under the scorching heat, in the smoke-filled tunnels, they still work hard, regardless of labor risks or health damage.
However, the biggest concern is still the housing issue. Only a few businesses support workers with housing rental fees to attract workers. According to statistics, the number of workers without housing accounts for nearly 20%.
With a very limited salary fund and time, workers have very few opportunities to participate in community activities or study to improve their skills, participate in entertainment, etc. Every year, on major holidays and national anniversaries, the Executive Committee of the grassroots trade union and the Industry Trade Union also organize sports and cultural competitions for workers, however, these activities only meet the needs of a small number of workers.
Ms. Dinh Thi Thu - a worker in the shaping team of Hung Nguyen Brick, Tile and Construction Joint Stock Company said: “Recently, I have registered to apply for support from the union roof fund to build a house but have not been able to do so. To be honest, I really want to, living in the old, cramped and stuffy dormitory bought at a discounted price. I feel sorry for my children but after thinking it over, with the savings after more than 20 years of working at the company, plus the 40,000,000 VND supported, it is still not enough and if I borrow, how can I pay it back?”
Her husband died early, leaving Ms. Thu to raise two children alone, with a monthly salary that is just enough to live on. “Now I don’t have the strength to work extra… Now I just want my children to finish high school and find more suitable jobs,” Ms. Thu confided.
For more than 27 years working with clay and the noise of machines, Ms. Thu has never felt discouraged, even though her time off is very limited. She always believes: There is no noble or lowly profession, as long as it is honest labor, any profession is valuable. Therefore, she is always proud of her job and calls her job "putting the country into a mold".
