In the bustling atmosphere of the last day of the year, when every household is busy preparing for the Lunar New Year, there are still workers silently working hard, contributing to preserving the beauty of the city. They are environmental sanitation workers, the “silent warriors”.
Working hard to keep the streets clean and beautiful on Tet holiday
Mr. Huy Bang, a sanitation worker in Tan Phu district (from Ben Tre), shared: "It's not true to say that I don't miss home, especially during these Tet holidays, everyone wants to be with their family. I also miss my wife and children back home a lot." His voice dropped, his eyes filled with sadness.
Tet is a time for family reunion, but for people with special jobs like Mr. Bang, those are the busiest days. “But what can you do, that’s how it is. There are only a few days of Tet each year, I try to do my job well to keep the city clean and beautiful, and the people happy, that’s a bit of a consolation.”
During Tet, Mr. Bang and his colleagues usually start their work early and finish when the streets are deserted. The increased amount of waste requires them to work at a higher intensity. “After finishing work, we also take the time to call our families and wish everyone a happy new year,” Mr. Bang said.
A little Tet gift to encourage workers
Mr. Cao Van Tuan, Head of Environmental Technology and Quality Control Department, Ho Chi Minh City Urban Environment Company Limited, said that at the end of the year, the amount of household waste increased dramatically, making the work of sanitation workers even more difficult. Understanding that, the company has had special policies and regimes to encourage and support workers.
Each worker received a Tet gift worth about 1.7 million VND (including gifts and cash), along with meals during the working days during Tet of about 600,000 to 1 million VND/person. In addition, each worker also received additional salary and a bonus for completing the plan of an average of 16.2 million VND/person.
Not only that, the company's management and unions also have many activities to care for workers. The Youth Union's "Warm Spring" program is an example. The unit has also mobilized staff and workers to donate nearly 100 million VND to support workers in difficult circumstances, sick and ill, with support levels ranging from 3 to 7 million VND/person.
The unit's work plan during Tet is also implemented throughout. While people celebrate New Year's Eve, sanitation workers continue to work continuously through the night until the morning of the first day of Tet. At the garbage treatment sites, they work until 10am on the first day of Tet before being allowed to go home. Transfer stations also resume operations from the morning of the second day of Tet.
“For sanitation workers, we always celebrate Tet after the city's residents,” the representative shared.
According to Mr. Vo Van Quang, representative of Toan Quoc Environmental Technical Service Trading Company Limited (operating in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City), the amount of waste at the end of the year often doubles compared to normal days, mainly due to people cleaning their houses and trees.
This is a common situation that occurs every year and the unit has been prepared. The unit currently has 2 trucks and 8 permanent sanitation workers. During the peak days of Tet, due to the high amount of garbage, the unit has to increase manpower and work overtime at night to ensure environmental sanitation.
Regarding the treatment of workers, Mr. Quang said that this Tet holiday, the unit has also tried to support workers with the 13th month salary. In addition, the garbage union at Binh Tan Cooperative also supported workers with gifts, showing the unit's concern for workers.
Despite facing many difficulties and sacrificing their personal time during Tet, the "silent warriors" always try their best, making an important contribution to keeping the city's environment clean, so that people can enjoy a full spring.
