Meal supplier unit takes responsibility
On July 21, at the lunch table of workers at Unico Global YB Company Limited ( Au Lau Industrial Park, Au Lau Ward, Lao Cai City), a worker suddenly discovered a foreign object suspected to be an animal living in a rice tray. The foreign object moved on the rotated meat, like a rat.
A few years ago, the company also had a food poisoning incident that caused 29 people to be hospitalized for treatment. The company has a large number of workers from mountainous areas and ethnic minorities, so we are very worried, not knowing what to do and having to report to Lao Dong Newspaper," Ms. N.T.L. - a worker shared.
Immediately after receiving the information, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters contacted the Lao Cai Provincial Labor Federation and the Provincial Department of Health, requesting urgent intervention in verifying and protecting workers' rights.
The timely response of Lao Dong Newspaper and the quick coordination of the authorities have created pressure for businesses to publicly handle the incident. That same afternoon, the kitchen department replaced the rice trays with new ones for the workers and made a record of the explanation.
The representative of the catering supplier, Life Bridge Company Limited (headquartered in Hanoi), also spoke up to accept responsibility.
Through verification, for lunch on July 21, the company provided about 1,100 meals to workers with the following dishes: white rice, fried catfish, stir-fried pumpkin, black sticky rice soup, sausage fried rice, fried pork and yogurt, dessert guava.
On July 22, with the presence of leaders of Lao Cai Provincial Labor Federation and reporters of Lao Dong Newspaper, the working group inspected the kitchen at the company. Here, the unit presented some documents such as meat import and export documents dated July 19, guava on July 21. However, the lunch circulation sample on July 21 was canceled, making testing difficult.
Life Bridge Company admitted many shortcomings in operation and apologized to the workers. According to the explanation, the origin of the foreign object was determined to be an insect from the fallen guava fruit, which has not yet affected health. Because the sample storage time is only 24 hours, when the inspection team arrived, the sample storage period had passed and could not be inspected.
Requirement to rectify quality
However, concerns about food safety at enterprises with thousands of employees still exist. At lunch on July 22, more than 60% of workers at Unico Global YB Company Limited refused to eat meals provided by Life Bridge Company Limited, instead of ordering food outside.
In the face of the above situation, Mr. Phan Huy Cuong - Vice Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial Labor Federation - requested the company to pay for lunch for the number of workers who did not eat at the cafeteria on July 22. At the same time, the food supplier is required to commit to rectifying the quality, if there are continued violations, they will be strictly handled according to the law.
The incident attracted public attention and continued to be closely monitored by Lao Dong Newspaper.
On July 23, a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper was present at the kitchen of Unico Global YB Company Limited to inspect the situation and grasp the thoughts and aspirations of the workers.
Through observation, the cooking stages are clean, the kitchen area has a refrigerator, sample storage warehouse, the food division area, bowls... are neatly arranged and safe.
That lunch included dishes: dried fish, spring rolls, pickled melons, soup, and desserts such as jelly and yogurt. More than 1,000 workers have eaten on the spot, no longer worried and hesitant like before.
Representatives of the catering unit committed to drawing in-depth experience, reviewing the entire process, changing the menu to limit risks, especially converting fruit dessert to safer products such as yogurt and jelly.
"We would like to thank Lao Dong Newspaper for promptly reporting the incident and coordinating with authorities to help protect the health and rights of workers. Thanks to this quick and strong participation, the quality of workers' meals has been significantly improved in both food safety and hygiene and nutrition, said Mr. Nguyen Thanh Thao - Chairman of the Trade Union of Unico Global YB Company Limited.
Mr. Nguyen Chuong Phat - Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial Labor Federation - shared: "In the past, there were many incidents
Violations related to labor safety, food hygiene, late pay, and insurance debts of employees have been detected and promptly informed by Lao Dong Newspaper. Thanks to that, the role of the Trade Union organization through inspection and supervision activities in enterprises is enhanced, contributing to protecting the legitimate and legal rights and interests of union members and workers".
