Dear comrades in the Central working delegation,
Dear leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, departments, ministries, central agencies and Ho Chi Minh City
Dear trade union officials, workers, and laborers.
Today, in the atmosphere of the whole country looking towards the anniversary of the Liberation of the South, national reunification on April 30 and International Labor Day May 1, I am very happy to visit, meet, and chat with workers and laborers in Ho Chi Minh City.
I and the working delegation came to visit the lives, jobs, and living conditions of workers; listen to their thoughts, aspirations, difficulties, and hardships in daily life; and at the same time share with them the feelings and deep concern of the Party, State, Fatherland Front, Trade Union organization and Party committees and authorities of Ho Chi Minh City for the working class and laborers - especially those who are still facing many difficulties, illnesses, low incomes, cramped housing, children still lacking education, and life still has many things to worry about.
Dear comrades and all workers!
Through practical observations, through reports from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, from Ho Chi Minh City and through the sincere sharing of workers today, I am very sympathetic and somewhat aware of the responsibility of the Party, State, trade union organization and myself before the difficulties of workers and laborers.
I am touched to see that there are many beautiful examples here. There are workers who, despite difficult circumstances, despite unfortunately suffering from serious illnesses, still persistently overcome them, still optimistic, still try to work, take care of their families and not give up on fate. There are workers who are eager to learn, diligent, creative, have many technical innovations, benefit businesses, contributing to improving labor productivity. There are trade union officials who quietly and dedicatedly go to each boarding house, to each workshop, each worker's family to grasp difficulties, mobilize support, and share in times of hardship.
Those stories are very simple but very precious. Simple things in life but reflect the beauty of Vietnamese workers today: diligence, hard work, strong will, responsible living, knowing how to love family, attached to colleagues, businesses, trade union organizations and the country.
I am also very happy to see that in the past time, trade union levels, the government of Ho Chi Minh City, businesses and the social community have done many practical things to care for the lives of workers and laborers. Many programs to support housing, health care, give gifts to workers in difficult circumstances, support workers' children, and help workers with dangerous diseases, labor accidents, and job loss have been implemented. These actions, although not solving all difficulties, are very warm, very humane, and truly reflect the good nature of our regime: not leaving anyone behind.
However, I also share the difficulties and shortages that workers are still facing. Many people still have to rent rooms in small rooms, living conditions are still difficult, cramped, and lacking. Many worker families are also worried about schools for their children, medical examination and treatment, health care, living expenses, prices, meals, travel, labor safety, and traffic safety. Some people work hard all year round but have not accumulated much. Some people, when sick, illness, or family events occur, are very likely to fall into difficult circumstances.
We must look straight at those things, listen carefully, and solve them with responsibility and compassion. Caring for workers is not just about providing some material support during holidays and Tet; but more importantly, creating stable jobs, better incomes, a safer working environment, better quality housing, more convenient schools, closer medical services, and richer spiritual and cultural life. Workers must live in increasingly better conditions, commensurate with their great contributions to businesses, to the city and to the country.
Dear Workers! Our Party and State always identify the working class as a very important force in the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland.
In every revolutionary period, Vietnamese workers are always present in difficult and arduous places, on construction sites, in factories, in industrial parks, in the fields of production, services, transportation, technology, processing, and manufacturing.The hands, minds, sweat and creativity of the brothers and sisters have contributed to the development achievements of the country today.
Ho Chi Minh City is the major economic center of the country, a gathering place for a large number of workers and laborers from many regions. Many brothers and sisters leave their hometowns to come to the city to start a career, accept being far from their families, far from their parents, far from their fields, far from their places of birth, to work, to raise their children to study, to send money back to their hometowns, to contribute to the common development of the country. Each rented room lights up after work, each quick meal, each early morning bus trip to work, each small initiative in the workshop, each overtime hour all contain the silent sacrifice of brothers and sisters workers.
The Party, State and government of Ho Chi Minh City understand that, appreciate that and have the responsibility to take better care of the brothers and sisters.
I propose that Ho Chi Minh City continue to consider taking care of the lives of workers and laborers as an important, regular and long-term political task. The city needs to review more carefully the needs for social housing, worker dormitories, schools, kindergartens, health stations, cultural institutions, community living areas in industrial parks, export processing zones and areas with many workers living. It is necessary to ensure that workers not only have jobs, but also have stable housing; not only have income, but also have conditions to raise children, take care of parents in the countryside; not only work, but also have rest, study, play, and improve the spiritual life of workers and laborers.
I propose that trade union levels must be closer to workers, understand workers better, speak the voice of workers and practically protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of workers. Trade unions must be present in a timely manner when workers are in difficulty, sick, are owed salaries, lose their jobs, have labor accidents or encounter upheavals in life. Trade unions are not only places to organize movements, but must truly be a warm home, a reliable support for union members, workers, and laborers.
I also propose that businesses and employers continue to pay more attention to their workers. Workers are not only hired laborers, but also companions of businesses. Businesses want to develop sustainably, they must care for workers; must ensure wages, welfare, working conditions, and labor safety; must listen to initiatives, respect dignity, create learning opportunities, and improve skills for workers. When workers are assured, attached, and proud of their workplace, businesses will also be stronger, more stable, and develop more sustainably.
I am very much listening to and encouraging the opinions and proposals of workers on continuing to train workers; investing in science and technology; encouraging initiatives and creativity. Innovations contribute to the development of enterprises, improving labor productivity, increasing income, and people's lives. I also welcome and accept the recommendations on salaries, which must ensure living standards.
Dear workers!
Our country is entering a new stage of development with many opportunities but also many difficulties and challenges. Science and technology change very quickly; the requirements for productivity, quality, and professional skills are increasingly high. Therefore, I hope that brothers and sisters will continue to maintain their belief, spirit of solidarity, and will to rise up; actively learn a trade, improve their skills, practice industrial style, labor discipline, digital skills, and foreign languages if possible. Each worker should try to learn a new skill, do better in their work every day, boldly propose initiatives, technical improvements, save materials, ensure safety, and improve product quality.
Innovation is not something far-fetched. Innovation can start from a more reasonable operation, a more scientific chain arrangement, an idea that helps save time, reduce accidents, reduce hardship, and increase productivity. These simple initiatives, if respected and replicated, will create great strength for businesses and for the economy and for the country.
I also hope that brothers and sisters, even though life is still difficult, will still maintain their health, take care of their families, raise their children, live with kindness, solidarity, and help each other in the dormitory, in the workshop, and in the community. Vietnamese workers are not only good at work, but also beautiful in their hearts, in their affection, and in their sharing in difficult times.
Dear comrades and workers,
Today's meeting is not just a visit activity. This is also a reminder to us that behind the growth targets, behind factories, industrial parks, production lines, there is also a very specific life of each worker, each worker's family, each young child who is a worker's child, each worker's parent in their hometown. Each correct policy, each practical action, each timely care can help a family reduce difficulties, a patient gain more strength, a young child have more conditions to go to school, and a worker gain more faith in the future.
I believe that, with the tradition of affection of Ho Chi Minh City, with the responsibility of Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front, trade union organizations, businesses and the whole society, the lives of workers and laborers will continue to improve better. I also believe that workers and laborers in Ho Chi Minh City will continue to promote the tradition of diligence, creativity, affection, and solidarity; both taking good care of their families and making worthy contributions to the development of the city named after Uncle Ho and of beloved Vietnam.
I will receive and thank the recommendations and proposals of workers and laborers and I believe that the recommendations are very appropriate, very in line with the Party's guidelines and the State's policies for the coming period, in labor and national development, as well as taking care of people's lives.
On this occasion, I cordially send to all workers and laborers of Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country my warm regards, wishes for health, happiness and success.
Wishing workers' families always good health, prosperity, peace, and happiness.
Wishing the Trade Union organization to become increasingly strong, truly a reliable support for workers and the working class.
Wishing Ho Chi Minh City to continue to develop dynamically, civilized, and compassionately, always taking the lead in caring for people's lives, especially those who are still facing many difficulties.
Wishing good health to comrades, workers, and laborers!
Sincerely thank you!
