Worry about keeping jobs, workers return right after Tet

"This year I did not return to my hometown, I stayed to work until the last day and returned on the day the factory opened on the 7th day of Tet," said Mai Thi Hue, a worker at TKG Taekwang Vina Company (Dong Nai) on her first working day on February 4.

Ms. Hue and her husband are both from Nam Dinh, so for many years, the family has returned to their hometown almost every Tet. Her husband works as a bricklayer, but this year there is little work, and the family's expenses depend on his wife's salary of nearly 12 million VND per month. Last Tet, she received a bonus of 1.5 months' salary, "if she returns to her hometown, it will be spent on trains and buses". Therefore, this year, they agreed to stay "for Tet in the South".

The mother of three said that in addition to saving money and having young children, staying in Dong Nai for Tet helped her return to work early. In the new year, she set a goal of a stable family life, so she convinced her husband to join her in working at the factory. The female worker explained that when she was short of money to build a house, the company also helped her borrow money. When the pandemic hit and there was a lack of work, the union supported her with food. She also didn't have to worry about giving birth to three children because she had health insurance and support from the company.

"After many events, I see that having a good workplace is lucky," said the 42-year-old female worker.

Like Ms. Hue, more than 35,000 workers of TKG Taekwang Vina Company returned to work after a 9-day Tet holiday. On the first working day of the year, the board of directors and the union also gave each employee 200,000 VND, worth more than 7 billion VND in total. Mr. Dinh Sy Phuc, Chairman of the company's union, said that the rate reached 98%, with only about 700 people in the northern provinces who had not arrived yet because they took the company's free shuttle bus departing on the 7th day getting two more days off with pay.

According to Mr. Phuc, over the years, the company has always tried to create a vibrant working atmosphere right from the beginning of the year in many ways such as giving lucky money, lucky draws, gifts... to workers. In addition to "instant noodle" programs, the company identifies important factors as increasingly better salaries, bonuses, and welfare regimes. In particular, over the past year, the board of directors has made efforts to find new orders and partners, maintaining steady work so that workers can feel secure in their commitment.

Similarly, Ms. Ngoc Tuyen, a sales assistant at a consumer goods distribution company, returned to Ho Chi Minh City on the 4th day of Tet to prepare to return to work on the 6th (February 3).

The company where Ms. Tuyen works has nearly 100 employees, located in Tan Binh Industrial Park (Tan Phu District). Because it distributes essential products, the company's workload is quite large before Tet. Ms. Tuyen is one of the employees who worked until the last day. She got on the bus to Phu Yen to celebrate Tet on the morning of December 27. After the holiday, although there was not much work, the 32-year-old female employee still decided to come in early to prepare for the opening day. "Getting into the rhythm early so I don't get sluggish," Ms. Tuyen said.

The mother of two said she really appreciates her new job and told herself to work harder. Two years ago, she gave birth to her second daughter at the same time her three-year contract at her previous place ended. Losing her job in the midst of economic difficulties and having a small child meant she couldn’t find a new job for almost a year. In the middle of last year, her current company hired her with a basic salary of more than 10 million VND per month. In addition, the company also gives her a bonus when she achieves good sales.

"Last year, I also went back to my hometown for Tet but returned to Ho Chi Minh City without knowing what to do. This year is different. Having a job to start with is really lucky," said Ms. Tuyen.

The mentality of keeping a job like Ms. Tuyen or female worker Hue is one of the reasons for the increase in the rate of workers returning to work after Tet, according to Ms. Nguyen Hoang Hieu, Director of the Center for Human Resource Demand Forecasting and Labor Market Information of Ho Chi Minh City (Falmi, under the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City). The wave of labor cuts, lack of working hours, job losses... in recent times has affected the psychology of workers. Many people want to return to work early to keep their jobs and ensure their lives.

Further analysis, Ms. Hieu said that recently, many workers have left the city or switched to informal jobs, businesses have built many attractive recruitment policies, benefits, and friendly working environments to attract and retain employees.

In particular, Ho Chi Minh City's economy has gradually recovered and regained growth momentum. Many businesses have orders, increased recruitment, increased salaries... creating confidence for workers and encouraging them to return to the city.

Based on these factors, according to Falmi's pre-Tet survey, 76.5% of Ho Chi Minh City businesses believe that 100% of employees will return to work after Tet, 19% of companies estimate this rate to be from 80% to less than 100%. The remaining minority (4.5%) believe that this rate will be lower.

In Dong Nai, data from the provincial Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs showed that a quick survey of 130 businesses on the morning of February 4 showed that the rate of workers returning to work was over 86%. The group that has not returned to work after the Tet holiday has registered for annual leave and is expected to increase rapidly in the next few days.

Similarly, in Binh Duong, Mr. Pham Van Tuyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of the province, said that this year the rate of businesses in the area resuming operations from February 3 (the 6th day of Tet) is higher than every year. Many businesses organized lucky money from 100,000 to 800,000 VND for workers, creating an exciting atmosphere. Many factories recorded 100% of workers returning right after Tet such as Showa Gloves Viet, Kurabe Industrial Vietnam, Friesland Campina...

Leaders of the Binh Duong province labor sector said that the rate of workers returning to work is higher than previous years because businesses have implemented good policies on wages, bonuses, welfare regimes and diversified forms of caring for workers' lives. In particular, the improved working style and sense of discipline of workers are important factors for them to return to work on time and on date.