Báo Bình Dương điện tử - www.baobinhduong.vn
Tổng Biên tập: LÊ MINH TÙNG
Phó Tổng Biên tập: HUỲNH MINH DÂN - NGUYỄN QUỐC LIÊM
Last week, a series of Tet care programs covered all localities in the province. Departments, sectors and mass organizations not only coordinated to create many playgrounds for trade unionists and workers during Tet, but also opened many care programs from building houses to giving gifts and visiting workers with difficult circumstances at enterprises and lodging facilities.
Warm hearts on Tet holiday
Recently, in the "Tet reunion - spring sharing" program organized by Di An city’s Labor Union, along with thousands of Tet gifts given to employees, more than 200 pairs of “banh chung” (square sticky rice cake) and “banh tet” (glutinous sticky rice cake) and 34 gifts will be given to trade unionists and employees with extremely difficult circumstances at the local lodging facilities in the coming days. In addition, many Trade Union houses were urgently built and handed over by the unit on Tet holiday, bringing great joy to workers living far from home.
Nguyen Kim Loan (first right), Chairman of provincial Labor Union visits and donates lucky money to workers returning home for Tet under the 2024 "Flight of Gratitude" program
Nguyen Phuong Trang, from the trade union local of SGX Co., Ltd. in Di An ward, one of 3 workers given a house at the end of the year, shared: "Thus, this Tet, my family has a house, the indescribable joy and a unexpected gift. A few months ago, my husband and I planned to return home to celebrate Tet, but now that we have a new house. Therefore, we won’t go home, having to take care of our home. I don't know what to say, except thanks to the city's Labor Union and donors. Despite going through a difficult year, our workers received great care from authorities at all levels at the end of the year".
Or at the "Trade Union Tet Market" program at provincial Labor Cultural Center organized by provincial Labor Union, there were more than 30,000 workers coming to the market for shopping. The market has more than 50 booths offering 500 essential items, clothes and shoes sold at preferential prices. The Organization Board also donated 500 shopping vouchers worth VND500,000 each to 500 trade unionists and workers. The program also created an attractive playground, with valuable prizes such as televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machines from lucky draw. Pham Thi Thuy Hang, a worker of Thong Dung Shoes Co., Ltd. in Thuan An city’s An Phu ward confided: "There has never been a year where the Trade Union Tet market has been so big, with quality goods, diverse products and many other incentive programs. At this market, our family has all the necessities and cakes to stay in Binh Duong to celebrate Tet this year."
In other localities such as Tan Uyen city and Ben Cat town, where many workers live and work, many welfare programs associated with festivals, serving workers have been organized. Nguyen Hoang Bao Tran, Vice-Chairwoman of provincial Labor Union shared: "Every year, implementing the direction of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and provincial Party Committee on organizing Tet care activities for trade unionists, employees and all-level trade unions in the province ensures practical and effective care in organizational work in accordance with the motto that all trade unionists members and workers have Tet. This year, provincial People's Committee supported 44,400 gifts worth VND 1 million each from the budget, sharing many difficulties with workers".
Joy with spring trains and planes
In addition to taking care of workers staying in Binh Duong to celebrate Tet, programs to support train and plane tickets to bring workers to the provinces to reunite with their families during Tet are thoughtfully implemented by provincial trade unions at all levels. Mrs. Tran added that this year, provincial Labor Union has further organized a "Spring Train" to bring trade unionists home for Tet. A total of 1,450 free train tickets are available for workers to the Central and Northern provinces. There will be also 3,500 bus tickets for trade unionists and workers. More than 50 needy workers who have not been able to return home for many years will also be considered for free plane tickets.
Recently, when the first flight brought 32 workers from Tan Son Nhat airport to Noi Bai to return to the Northern provinces, many workers were so happy that they shed tears. This was because many of them not only set foot on a plane for the first time in their lives, were not only sent off by leaders and officials of provincial Labor Union and trade union with gifts, lucky money and Tet greetings. Typically, Tran Thi Hanh and her husband, workers of Phong Thai Rubber Co.Ltd. in Ben Cat town’s Tan Dinh ward have not returned home to celebrate Tet for 4 years. Mrs. Hanh confided: "Every Tet holiday, we looks forward to returning home to reunite with their family, but they cannot do that. And then we tell themselves that this year is difficult for our family, so we will try harder next year". Recently, when I was surprised to receive free round-trip airline tickets, my husband and I cried for the joy. For several days, the whole family was so happy that we couldn't sleep."
As for Nguyen Thi Viet Trinh, from Quang Binh province, a worker at Nito Denko Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Thuan An city’s Binh Hoa ward, the day she received the train ticket to return home to celebrate Tet could not hide her joy. She said: "This year, due to hard work, my husband was unemployed, and our small child was sent to his grandmother to look after. Luckily, the Trade Union of Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park supported my family with spring train tickets. I look forward every day to being able to board the spring train and hold my child in my arms after nearly 2 years of separation. During Tet, workers living away from home like us have received much material and spiritual care from provincial leaders at all levels from...".
It can be affirmed that although in 2023 workers in the province faced many difficulties in terms of employment and income, they have received full care on Tet or great holidays. Therefore, most of them feel warm to continue being attached to work, to the second homeland that has been chosen to set themselves up in business and live.
Reported by Quang Tam-Translated by Kim Tin