In early November 2022, I received feedback from people about the situation that for the past 26 years, many generations of preschool children at Dong hamlet school (Binh Minh commune, Binh Son district, Quang Ngai province - at the time of the merger) have had to study in a seriously degraded school. What surprised me was that the school had no toilets at all, the children were forced to go to the toilet on... the mountain slope behind the school.
I immediately set off, traveling more than 40 km by motorbike to verify the information. What I witnessed with my own eyes made my heart feel: about 30 children studying in an old level 4 room, with a dilapidated tiled roof, peeling walls, and bulky floor. During the rainy and stormy season, this place could collapse at any time.
On the same day, Lao Dong Newspaper published an article: "The school has not had a toilet for 26 years, students go to the toilet on... the mountain". The article attracted special attention from the community. Just a few hours after the article was broadcast, Mr. Vo Van Dong - Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Son district at that time (before the merger) - said that he had grasped the reflection and immediately directed the Department of Education to conduct an on-site inspection.
On the same afternoon, the Department of Education and Training of the district (old) coordinated with relevant units to survey the school. Not only assessing the current status of facilities, the delegation also listened to the thoughts and aspirations of parents and teachers here.
The inspection results confirmed that the reflection of Lao Dong Newspaper was completely accurate. And after only a few days, a "resurrection" began. About 200 million VND was invested to repair the roof, walls, paving the ground, building the school yard, building a toilet - for the first time in 26 years, the school has a proper toilet for children.
The rapid change, when it comes right, makes both teachers and parents burst into emotion. The years of teaching and learning in deprivation seem to have lasted forever, now they have ended.
Ms. Vo Thi Kim Dung - a teacher at this school - emotionally shared: "We are very happy. After the article from Lao Dong Newspaper, the district's authorities came to survey and then invest in repairs. Having a spacious school like today is something we have been looking forward to for many years.
In October 2024, Mr. Pham Thai Duong - former Chairman of the Trade Union of Dung Quat Economic Zone and Industrial Parks of Quang Ngai province - called to inform: Nhat Hung Dung Quat Wood Processing Company Limited owes wages for two consecutive months (August and September 2024) to nearly 170 workers, a total of more than 1.8 billion VND. In addition, the company still owes social insurance over 1 billion VND, causing workers' lives to fall into a difficult situation.
As soon as the information was received, the Trade Union and the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper took action, working with the company and writing a report. Next, Lao Dong Newspaper continued to publish articles about Nhat Hung Son Ha Company Limited owing wages and social insurance to workers with a total amount of about 829 million VND.
The two articles quickly spread. The authorities have stepped in to verify, work with businesses, and especially urge the payment of salaries to workers.
After only 10 days, Nhat Hung Dung Quat Wood Processing Company Limited paid 1.8 billion VND in wages to workers. Nhat Hung Son Ha Company Limited also urgently paid all unpaid wages and social insurance.
According to the reporter's research, many workers here are rural people, ethnic minorities, and have difficult lives, and when they are owed wages, they are even more troubled. Therefore, when receiving their well- compensated wages and returning to work, many people could not hide their tears of joy.
