Maintaining peace in workers' housing areas
The workers' dormitory, where millions of workers far from home earn a living and rest, has long been considered a "lowland" for security, order, cultural life and living conditions.
In the context of industrial parks expanding, the number of workers renting accommodation is increasing rapidly, building self-management models, connecting the community becomes an urgent requirement to maintain peace, stabilize life and create a foundation for sustainable development of the workforce.
In many localities, especially cities with large industrial parks such as Da Nang, Hanoi..., the model of self-managed workers' groups in boarding houses has proven to be effective, not only in ensuring security and order but also gradually improving the cultural and spiritual life of workers.
Recently, the Lien Chieu Ward Trade Union (Da Nang City) held a conference to announce the decision to establish 2 more self-managed workers' groups in the boarding house area at the Social Housing Apartment Complex, Hoa Khanh Industrial Park.
With the launch of two new groups, the total number of Self-managed Groups in the ward has increased to 31, showing the persistent influence of this model.
Mr. Le Trong Nguyen - Chairman of the Lien Chieu Ward Trade Union affirmed that the Self-management Team is not only a place for gathering and connecting workers who are renting a room but also an important channel to grasp the thoughts, aspirations, living conditions and employment of workers.
Through that, local authorities, trade unions and police forces can promptly support and remove difficulties, while maintaining security and order right from the grassroots.
On this occasion, the Da Nang City Labor Federation presented 2 mobile cars as a place to live to the Team Management Board and 4 gifts to workers in difficult circumstances. The practical actions demonstrate the role of the Trade Union organization in accompanying and caring for workers.
From the first groups established in 2010, up to now, the whole city has had more than 70 Self-management groups, mainly concentrated in Cam Le, Lien Chieu, Son Tra wards - where there are many workers working in industrial parks.
Each Self-management Team operates as an "extended arm" of the grassroots Trade Union, a bridge between workers and the government, police and landlords. In practice, this model has clearly demonstrated its effectiveness in crime prevention, detection and denunciation.
Safe living space associated with spiritual life
Not only stopping at maintaining security and order, the Self-management Groups of the workers' dormitory area are also the foundation for implementing many activities to care for the cultural and spiritual life of workers, a factor that is already lacking in the dormitories.
One of the typical models is the Trade Union Bookcase, deployed by Trade Union organizations at all levels in many boarding houses with a large number of workers.
In Mai Chau village, Dong Anh commune (Hanoi), the Trade Union Bookcase located right in the workers' dormitory has become a familiar living spot for workers after work.
The bookcase includes more than 50 books, newspapers, and diverse documents, from legal documents such as the Labor Code, Trade Union Law, Social Insurance Law to policy propaganda books, Trade Union publications, literary and entertainment books, etc. The books are selected based on the actual needs of union members and workers.
Mr. Tran Van Thong - a worker at Thang Long Industrial Park (Dong Anh, Hanoi) said that thanks to the Union Bookcase located right at the boarding house, he and many other workers have the opportunity to read books and newspapers to improve their spiritual life, while better understanding their rights and obligations in labor relations.
"Because we work in shifts, reading at the boarding house is very convenient, if anyone is free, they can go out to read at that time" - Mr. Thong shared.
According to Mr. Vuong Anh Quang - Head of the self-management team of the Mai Chau workers' dormitory, in the context of smartphones being almost the only means of entertainment for many workers after work, placing the Union Bookcase in the dormitory has special significance. Not only helping to improve the spiritual and cultural life, the Bookcase also contributes to arousing the habit of reading and the spirit of lifelong learning in workers.
With its responsibility, the Executive Board of the Self-management Team directly manages and preserves the Bookshelf, creating conditions for workers to borrow books to the reading room.
Mr. Quang also hopes that in the coming time, the Trade Union organization will continue to implement more practical activities, helping workers feel secure in living and staying at the workplace for a long time.
The role of landlords in the self-management model
In addition to the Trade Union and the authorities, the active participation of the boarding house owner is an important factor in the success of the Workers' Boarding House Self-management Group model.
In Dong Anh commune, Mr. Ha Van Kinh, the owner of a row of boarding houses with many workers renting, said that every day he spends time arranging and cleaning the Trade Union Bookcase area located right in the center of the boarding house. The bookcase is invested by the City Labor Federation, creating conditions for tenants to read on the spot or borrow it back to their rooms.
Mr. Kinh's boarding house is one of 36 boarding houses participating in the Self-management Group model in Dong Anh commune. According to him, participating in the model helps the family's boarding house always ensure security and order, workers can live with peace of mind, thereby staying longer.
Another landlord, Mr. Le Xuan Thap, said that fully declaring temporary residence to 100% of tenants and installing a surveillance camera system are important measures to prevent crimes and ensure safety for workers. "When the rental area is safe and tenants are assured, the landlord will also be convenient in managing it" - Mr. Thap said.
According to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Trade Union Bookcase is an effective model, which has been successfully implemented in many localities, including Hanoi.
The construction of the Trade Union Bookcase at enterprises and worker accommodation areas is an activity to concretize the Program "Promoting lifelong learning activities among workers in enterprises by 2030".
Notably, the books and newspapers in the Trade Union Bookcase are all equipped according to the needs and desires of union members and workers; the location of the Bookcase is also flexibly organized, suitable for the living and working conditions of workers.
In addition, the model of Workers' Cultural Activity Point associated with the Trade Union Bookcase in Enterprises is also being implemented by many provincial and municipal Labor Federations.
Accordingly, the Trade Union supports computers, books, newspapers; employers arrange offices with internet connection for workers to study, learn documents, and improve knowledge.
In the current context, the need to care for the material and spiritual lives of workers is increasing, the replication of the model of the Self-management Group of Workers' Shelters associated with cultural institutions such as the Trade Union Bookcase is not only an immediate solution but also a long-term direction, contributing to building a strong working class, stabilizing society and sustainably developing industrial parks.
