Workers accuse the company of long-term unpaid wages
In recent days, social networks have spread images and videos recording the scene of a group of people who are said to be workers working at the Nam Pan 5 Hydropower Project (old Muong Bang Commune, Mai Son District, now Chieng Mung Commune, Son La Province) reporting that they have been owed wages for many months, have to live temporarily at the construction site, and are constantly threatened and chased away.
Recorded at the scene in early July, at the project's water barrier dam area, many workers and engineers were still working. However, inside the hut, there were 5 workers on leave.
Mr. Dinh Van Xac - Captain of the water tunnel and auxiliary tunnel construction - said that the team of more than 10 people has only been allocated 35 million VND since the beginning of the year, while it owes more than 280 million VND. He reflected that the Van Xuan Tay Bac Company Limited avoided, did not allow meeting with leaders, blocked communication and requested to stop construction from May 7 without giving a reason.
"From the end of May until now, some groups of strangers have continuously entered the workers' shelters, threatening and asking them to leave the construction site. Most recently, on the afternoon of June 30, two people took sticks and stormed into the hut to curse, chase and beat the workers, leading to a fight at the water connection tunnel entrance" - Mr. Xac said.
Mr. Nguyen Van Khoa - a worker from Nghe An - shared: "Last year I received full payment. But since the beginning of this year, I have only received 2 million VND, and more than 16 million VND is owed. It is not clear what is wrong between the company and the captain, but we work for hire, and if we don't have money, we have to return to our hometown to find another job. Hopefully the authorities will soon intervene".
In mid-May, to put pressure, a group of workers detained a overturned excavator and a material truck of Van Xuan Tay Bac Company Limited. According to Mr. Xic, this was unnecessary, and he reported it to the local authorities and the commune police made a record.
On June 30, workers used bamboo and steel stakes to fence the entrance to the tunnel, and continued to rub. Chieng Ngan Commune Police (now Chieng Sinh Ward) and authorities arrived at the scene to verify.
Company responds to workers' money debt issue
Talking with reporters, Mr. Nguyen Van Tuyen - Director of Van Xuan Tay Bac Company Limited - said: "In 2024, the construction team led by Mr. Xac completed phase 1 on schedule and was fully paid nearly 475 million VND, and was additionally allocated 35 million VND in early 2025.
However, in the following stages, the construction team blasted at the wrong location, damaged the water tunnel design, and could not fix it, so the company unilaterally terminated the contract according to the agreement".
According to Mr. Tuyen, the company has repeatedly asked Mr. Xac to work, but has not cooperated and posted information on social networks, keeping construction vehicles. The company has submitted a complaint to the People's Procuracy of Son La province and has been transferred to the Provincial Police for handling since June 18.
It is known that the Nam Pan 5 Hydropower Project was fined more than 600 million VND in 2022 for violating regulations on land and minerals. The investor divided the bid package into many units, but so far only Van Xuan Tay Bac Company Limited has been accused of unpaid wages, causing disorder.
