Year-end union meal: Fostering solidarity and spreading compassion

After a year of hard work, the year-end union meal, organized by grassroots trade unions in coordination with enterprises, has created a warm, meaningful atmosphere, bringing workers together around the dining table to share reflections on the past year and to ignite hope for a new spring full of aspirations and promises.

Workers of Chang Shin Vietnam Co., Ltd. (in Tan Trieu ward) enthusiastically take part in the year-end union meal. Photo: Nguyen Hoa

That meaningful meal is more than just a year-end activity. It is also a heartfelt expression of gratitude from enterprises and trade union organizations to the workers who have stayed resilient, devoted, and committed, standing by their companies throughout the past year.

An early taste of Tet

Last weekend, more than 240 workers at Elma Vietnam Industrial Co., Ltd. (Nhon Trach commune, Dong Nai province) enthusiastically participated in the year-end union meal, held in a warm, joyful atmosphere. The meal featured five nutritious dishes, valued at 290,000 VND per person, with 70,000 VND covered by the trade union and 220,000 VND contributed by the enterprise. Amid the hustle and bustle of year-end work, the meal was not only a practical form of material support but also an occasion for workers to gather, share, and feel a more profound sense of family connection.

Dang Thi Ha, a worker with Elma Vietnam Industrial Co., Ltd. for over 20 years, expressed her joy at joining her colleagues for the intimate year-end meal, attended by company leaders and trade union officials. She remarked that this was not just an ordinary meal but a meaningful moment for everyone to reflect on the journey they shared over the past year.

A particularly well-received highlight of the year-end union meal at Elma Vietnam Industrial Co., Ltd. was transforming the familiar workplace into a more festive and vibrant space. The company grounds were beautifully decorated with blossoming peach branches, pots of yellow apricot flowers, and bright red banners bearing the message “A connected Spring – A reunion Tet,” creating a joyful holiday atmosphere. Many workers arrived early to take commemorative photos and participate in cultural and artistic exchange programs celebrating spring and welcoming the Lunar New Year in a lively, meaningful way.

A similarly enthusiastic atmosphere was observed at Vietnam Caesar Sanitaryware Joint Stock Company (Nhon Trach commune). When the lunch break bell rang, nearly 900 workers gathered in the company cafeteria to enjoy the year-end union meal. The meal was rich in traditional Tet flavors, bringing warmth and comfort, especially to workers far from home, who had a rare opportunity to come together and share a year-end meal in a spirit of closeness and solidarity.

Nguyen Van Nam, a native of Nghe An province with five years of service at the company, shared: “The year-end union meal is an occasion for workers to gather in a warm atmosphere as Tet approaches. In that moment, I truly felt the spirit of unity, something seemingly simple, yet immensely valuable. We no longer feel alone; instead, we feel more cared for and supported.”

The year-end union meal not only features the flavors of traditional Tet dishes but also radiates affection, unity, and a spirit of sharing. It is this sense of togetherness that fosters motivation, confidence, and strength, empowering workers to continue moving forward with optimism in 2026.

Practical care from trade union organizations

Each Tet season, many workers away from their hometowns lack the means to return home and celebrate the Lunar New Year with their families. Some choose to stay behind to keep production going, while others, facing challenging circumstances, spend Tet in rented accommodations. In this context, the year-end union meal becomes more meaningful than ever, serving as a source of emotional support that helps those who remain feel as though they have a “second family” by their side. It is also an occasion for workers to temporarily set aside worries and pressures, sit together, and share stories of joy and sorrow, as well as cherished memories.

Notably, the value of year-end union meals goes beyond material support to hold deep spiritual meaning. Smiles, warm questions, and sincere care from enterprise leaders and trade union officials help bridge gaps and strengthen bonds among people. Additionally, simple conversations about going home for Tet or plans for the new year, though small, carry great significance, making workers feel more comforted and motivated to stay connected with their enterprises and trade union organizations.

Along with warm meals, many units also include Tet gift-giving, lucky draws, cultural performances, and traditional folk games, creating a joyful, lively atmosphere for workers during the last days of the year.

The year-end union meal at Global Powersports Manufacturing Incorporation (Trang Bom commune)

At Chang Shin Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Tan Trieu ward), the year-end union meal attracted more than 40,000 workers from across the company. In addition to carefully prepared meals that ensured workers’ health and nutrition, the program featured a much-anticipated lucky draw with valuable prizes such as motorcycles, washing machines, refrigerators, televisions, microwave ovens, and induction cooktops.

Dang Tuan Tu, Chairman of the Trade Union of Chang Shin Vietnam Co., Ltd., stated that the year-end union meal is not only an activity to care for workers’ material well-being but also carries profound spiritual significance for union members and employees. Through this warm, intimate gathering, the trade union hopes that workers will feel the organization's care and companionship, especially as Tet approaches. At the same time, the program reflects the deep concern of company leaders for the lives of workers, those who have remained committed and dedicated throughout the year.

According to Bui Thi Bich Thuy, Standing Vice President of the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor, the year-end union meal program is one of the key activities in the union members' and workers' Tet care agenda. The meal conveys a deeply humanistic message of the trade union’s companionship with employees, thereby strengthening members’ trust in the organization and enhancing the bond between workers, enterprises, and localities.

From these warm and compassionate year-end meals, trust and solidarity continue to be nurtured, enabling every worker in Dong Nai to experience a Tet that is complete and filled with love. The program's success serves as motivation for trade unions at all levels in Dong Nai to maintain and further develop worker-care initiatives that are increasingly aligned with the needs and aspirations of union members and employees, thereby contributing to the building of harmonious, stable, and progressive labor relations within enterprises.

By Nguyen Hoa - Translated by Hong Van, Minho