Bringing a warm Tet to workers in Dong Nai

Amid the joyful atmosphere of welcoming the Year of the Horse 2026, authorities at all levels in Dong Nai, together with trade union organizations and the business community, have been implementing a wide range of practical initiatives to bring a “Spring of care and compassion” to workers, particularly migrant laborers and those facing difficult circumstances.

Delivering a Tet of care to workers

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, a lively work atmosphere is spreading across industrial zones in Dong Nai. This reality is primarily due to the close support of trade unions at all levels in Dong Nai and enterprises, through practical, meaningful programs that care for workers’ material conditions and spiritual well-being. Compassionate bus journeys, Tet gift packages, and union year-end reunion meals have been bringing a warmer, more complete spring to workers far from home.

Phan Van Anh, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (fifth from right); Nguyen Thi Hoang, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee, present gifts to workers returning home on trade union trains during Tet 2025.

Le Thi Thuy Ha, a female worker at Changshin Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Tan Trieu Ward), said that during the Lunar New Year of 2026, she and many other workers attended a warm, cheerful union year-end reunion dinner with the participation of enterprise leaders and trade union officials at all levels. “The meal not only carried the flavors of Tet dishes but was also full of affection, solidarity, and a spirit of sharing. That sense of togetherness has created motivation, confidence, and strength for each person to continue striving and accompanying the enterprise on its development journey,” she shared.

Meanwhile, worker Le Thi Thao (from Cao Bang Province) has been unable to return home for Tet for more than seven years. After coming to Dong Nai to work and starting a family, the daily grind of "com, ao, gao, tien" has weighed heavily on her life away from home, so every Tet she chose to stay at her boarding house and celebrate with colleagues. This year, with trade union support, she received a train ticket to return home on the 25th day of Tet. She said she is both happy and deeply moved, counting down the days until she boards the train to reunite with her family for Tet.

Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor Bui Thi Bich Thuy stated that, guided by the motto “All union members and workers should have Tet,” trade unions across the province have proactively developed early care plans focusing on vulnerable groups such as workers in difficult circumstances, those affected by occupational accidents or serious illnesses, unemployed workers, and those unable to afford travel home for Tet. Familiar programs such as “Tet Reunion,” “Trade Union Bus Trip,” “Trade Union Tet Market,” and “Trade Union Shelter” initiatives continue to be widely implemented, receiving strong support from enterprises and workers alike.

Specifically, the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor has presented more than 74,000 Tet gift packages to disadvantaged union members and workers, along with 9,300 shopping vouchers valued at VND 500,000 each for participants in the online “Trade Union Tet Market - Spring 2026” organized by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor. Although modest in monetary value, these gifts carry significant emotional support and timely encouragement.

Notably, this year’s “Trade Union Bus Trip” program remains a highlight, reflecting strong humanitarian values. Trade unions provided more than 2,200 free bus tickets for workers returning to northern, central, and Central Highlands provinces, along with over 600 train and air tickets, enabling workers to reunite with their families and return to work with peace of mind after Tet. “Tet journeys do not only carry luggage; they also carry joy, anticipation, and hope for a peaceful new year,” Bui Thi Bich Thuy emphasized.

Ha Anh Dung (second from left), Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and Nguyen Quoc Dung, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Federation of Labor, visit and give lucky money to workers’ families before departure. Photo: Nguyen Hoa

Beyond material support, trade unions have also organized diverse cultural and artistic programs, lucky draws, and direct gift-giving activities at industrial zones and worker residential areas. Activities such as banh chung wrapping competitions and “Tet Reunion” events help create a warm atmosphere, allowing workers to feel the spirit of a family gathering even when unable to return home.

Trade unions across Dong Nai have also coordinated with employers to ensure that wages, bonuses, and welfare benefits are paid fully and on time before Tet. At the same time, dialogue between workers and employers has been strengthened to maintain harmonious labor relations.

According to a report compiled by the provincial Department of Home Affairs from nearly 2,000 enterprises across the province, the highest Tet bonus for Lunar New Year 2026 in the private sector was VND 840 million, while the average was about VND 11.4 million per person. In the FDI sector, the highest bonus was VND 700 million, and the average was VND 13.3 million per person. This initiative is a positive policy by enterprises in Dong Nai to recognize workers' contributions over the past year.

Providing motivation for workers

Despite economic challenges in 2025, Dong Nai maintained its position as a leading industrial hub, implementing effective worker retention policies. The combination of competitive Tet bonuses and a comprehensive social welfare network demonstrates significant efforts by both the province and trade union organizations to stabilize labor relations and improve workers’ living conditions. Enterprises have also maintained stable production and ensured workers' employment and income.

For Lunar New Year 2026, alongside the efforts of local authorities and trade unions, many enterprises demonstrated strong social responsibility by ensuring wages and Tet bonuses for employees. According to statistics from the Department of Home Affairs, all enterprises in Dong Nai provided Tet bonuses to eligible workers who had completed at least one year of service, with the minimum bonus equivalent to one month’s salary. Newly recruited workers also received Tet support allowances.

Workers of  Pou Phong Vietnam Co., Ltd. (An Vien Commune, Dong Nai Province) participate in a year-end fashion contest in 2025.

In addition to Tet bonuses, enterprises raised regional minimum-wage-based pay by an average of 7-10%, depending on job position and seniority, effective January 1, 2026. At Dong Phu Cuong Joint Stock Company (Thong Nhat Commune, Dong Nai Province), which employs nearly 2,500 workers, staff were doubly delighted when company leaders announced early in December the pay rates, Tet bonuses, and bonuses for excellent completion of the 2025 plan. The average bonus was VND 14.5 million per person, about 20% higher than last year.

Many enterprises have also worked with grassroots trade unions to organize meaningful activities to bring workers a warm Tet, including Tet lucky money, prize draws, and visits and encouragement for workers in difficult circumstances. The attention and care from company management are a source of motivation for workers to work hard and remain committed after Tet.

Nguyen Thi Sao, a worker at Lixil Global Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Long Duc Industrial Park), said emotionally that the trade union's care has helped her and many workers far from home ease their worries about expenses, feel secure at work, and stay committed to the enterprise for the long term, contributing to a warm Tet atmosphere and a spring season filled with added meaning.

Across the province, grassroots trade unions have simultaneously organized “Tet Reunion” programs to connect and share, bringing joy and warmth to workers ahead of the new spring. For example, at Jason Furniture Vietnam Co., Ltd. ( Dong Xoai III Industrial Park, Binh Phuoc Ward), workers enthusiastically participated in lucky draws, enjoyed cultural performances, and received gifts during the celebration.

Care activities for the Year of the Horse 2026 in Dong Nai have been implemented synchronously, basically, and with substantial humanitarian value from provincial to grassroots levels. These efforts represent not only social welfare measures but also long-term strategies to retain human resources and stabilize labor relations, affirming Dong Nai’s commitment to accompanying enterprises and workers toward sustainable development in the new year.

Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Home Affairs MAI XUAN TUAN

Chairman of the grassroots trade union at Jason Furniture Vietnam Co., Ltd., Duong Hoang An, said that while Tet is a time when everyone hopes to reunite with family, for many workers, especially those far from home, it still comes with many difficulties. Understanding this, trade unions always regard caring for the material and spiritual lives of union members and workers as a central task with deep humanitarian meaning. "We feel deeply moved when we receive smiles and sincere thanks from our worker brothers and sisters. That is the motivation for the trade union to continue renewing its activities, staying close to the daily lives of workers, so that 'wherever there are workers, there is a trade union'," he said.

Through meaningful initiatives, the Dong Nai Trade Union continues to affirm its role as a reliable support for union members and workers. As Tet approaches, this spirit of sharing and care becomes a powerful source of encouragement, helping workers strengthen their bond with their jobs and enterprises. With the joint efforts of trade unions, businesses, and society, each spring promises to become a true season of compassion and hope for workers.

By Nguyen Hoa – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho