I still remember clearly one afternoon at the end of the year, in an export seafood processing factory, with the chilly cold and my hands winding, I accidentally had a conversation with female worker Trinh Hong Can.
Her face was not clearly visible because of her outfit and protective hat, but the female worker's eyes appeared tired but full of determination.
The cold in the work area sometimes makes the female worker lose control of her limbs, but she says: "No matter how cold it is, you have to try. Higher income means that children have new cans of milk and sets of clothes. Just think about the smiles of the little ones and all the cold will disappear.
The conversation lasted only a few minutes because of the so-called "productivity run" of female workers, but it helped me understand more, the happiness of workers is sometimes very simple.
Then there are evenings in the boarding house, when I sit down with the female workers to tell about overtime work all night, about the longing for children in the countryside, or the times I have to send my children to grandparents to go to the city to make a living.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thao Ngan, a young mother, could not help but be moved when mentioning her child's birthday that she could not return to. "I just hope to have more income so that my child can have better conditions," the female worker said chokingly. That moment, not just as a listener, I felt like I was a part of that sadness and that silent sacrifice.
As a single mother, Ms. Lam Kim Nhu has to bear the costs of raising 2 children, even though her salary only ranges from 6 - 8 million VND/month.
For the female worker, an incomplete marriage is not a reason for her to neglect her children, but on the contrary, it is an even more motivation for the female worker to strive to earn money and take care of her small home.
"As an adult, it's okay, but as a mother, I always want my children to be full. Thinking that way, I just try my best, the female worker confided.
Every meeting, every story, whether sad or happy, is a piece of the piece that creates a true picture of the lives of workers and laborers. It helps me understand that my job is not only to collect information, but also to connect people with people, providing a safe space for them to express the most secret things.
From the stories of Ms. Can, Ms. Ngan, Ms. Cach and many other workers, I understand that listening is not just about empathy. It should be the starting point for a bigger journey. Every thought and aspiration that I have acquired is a seed. My task is to cultivate those seeds, so that they can bloom into positive changes in the working environment and the lives of workers.
From meticulously synthesizing each opinion and filtering out core issues, I put the legitimate wishes and aspirations of workers into Lao Dong Newspaper - a 96-year-old newspaper, newspaper number one to protect workers' rights.
Maybe, not all, but I believe, I have spent a small part to improve the lives, working environment and income for workers.
For me, although it is just a small change, it is proof that the voices of workers have been listened to and respected.
