(BGO)- These days, Tet festivive atmosphere is spreading everywhere. In the workers’ rented accommodations in the northern province of Bac Giang, the house owners and lodgers who will stay during Tet are preparing for a new year while many of them still worry about earning for living.
Feelings of those who stay and those who go home on Tet
After sweeping his ground and setting up some plastic tables and chairs, Dao Ngoc Minh, a landlord in Song Khe 1 village, Song Khe commune, Bac Giang city and some workers sat for tea and talking about Tet.
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Young workers in Quang Chau commune, Viet Yen district make banh chung at the 2023 “Tet reunion- spring of cohesion” programme. |
Hoang Van Phuong (born in 1985) of Nung ethic group in Huu Lung district, Lang Son province has lived with his family for nearly 5 years. His wife and he are workers at Seojin Vietnam Company Limited in Song Khe – Noi Hoang industrial park.
The company’s workers sometimes had to rotationally suspend their work due to decreased orders; however, his wife and he have continuously worked overtime ahead Tet. Thus, their income in the final months of the year is better, about 9 million VND (384 USD) per each. They planned to return Lang Son to celebrate Tet with their family on 29th lunar December when the company allows them for Tet leave.
According to a report by the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, about 12 enterprises faced difficulties in the end of 2022 due to inflation and global economic crisis affecting jobs and incomes of nearly 3,500 workers.
The rented house of Lang Thi Hiep (from Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province) in Nui Hieu village, Quang Chau commune, Viet Yen district is still old as it is without any flowers or decorative for Tet festival.
She told her husband and she have worked in Bac Giang for nearly 3 years. The orders reduced due to impact of the pandemic causing a decrease in their income, thus all of their expenses must be saved.
“Although we miss our family and children so much, we decided not to go home on Tet to save money. Based on information by some neighbour, we will seek for seasonal jobs on coming holidays to earn more money and ease homesick”, said Hiep.
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After 2 years affected by Covid-19, this year everyone wants to return their hometowns to visit their relatives. This year, workers are allowed for Tet leave earlier than previous years because production and business activities of many enterprises declined.
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Dao Manh Tien gives Tet gifts to the workers living in the boarding house. |
“We directed the communes and towns around the industrial parks to check up the number of workers working far from home who will stay during Tet to recommend appropriate support plans. However, according to the initial report, not many workers will stay on Tet”, according to Nguyen Van Hung, Chairman of the Confederation of Labour of Viet Yen district.
Whether the workers will return home to celebrate Tet with their family or stay at the boarding houses, they will receive warm sharing by the house owners and local government.
On 28th or 29th lunar December every year, Than Thi Vu in My Dien 1 residential group, Nenh town, Viet Yen district makes banh chung for her family and workers renting her houses. This year, only 3 people in her 35-room boarding houses stay on Tet, thus she will give each of them a couple of banh chung.
There was delighted laughter in Dao Manh Tien’s boarding house in Song Khe 2 village, Song Khe commune. The workers and house owners were decorating the gates, hanging lanterns and cleaning the corridor to welcome Tet.
According to Tran Van Ha, Vice Director of the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the percentage of workers coming back for work in the industrial parks and clusters in the province right after Tet in recent years has reached 95 percent or higher.
This result has been gained thanks to salary, bonus and allowance policies of the enterprises in line with the warm affection and sharing of Bac Giang people, which is one of the reasons to retain employees.
There will be several enterprises influenced by global economic crisis in the first quarter 2023. Thus, the Department will continue to review and grasp production and business situation of the enterprises while collaborating with related agencies to solve arising problems and ensure legal rights of labourers.
