Continuing to focus on improving workers' lives

Dong Nai currently has a large workforce from both inside and outside the city, making important contributions to the city's socio-economic development. To retain this workforce, authorities at all levels in Dong Nai, the Trade Union (TU), and enterprises need to prioritize investment in housing, schools, and social welfare for employees.

This view was shared by many TU officials at a recent briefing and dialogue conference between the leadership of the Dong Nai Labor Federation and grassroots TUs at enterprises across four areas.

Ensuring social welfare for workers

Despite several adjustments to the regional minimum wage in recent years, rising living costs have hindered improvements in workers' real incomes. According to TU officials, the earnings of most employees are currently only sufficient to meet essential needs. Saving to purchase a home, investing in their children's education, or preparing financially for retirement remains a concern for many workers.

Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Labor Federation Bui Thi Bich Thuy presents gifts to TU members facing difficult circumstances.

One issue receiving particular attention from employees is the need for housing and childcare facilities near industrial parks. Although Dong Nai City has implemented a number of social housing development programs, supply has yet to meet the actual demand of the hundreds of thousands of workers employed in industrial parks. Consequently, most employees continue to rent accommodation in residential areas with limited living conditions.

Nguyen Thi Ha, from Thanh Hoa Province, said that after many years of working at Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Park, her family of four still rents a room of less than 20 square meters. With a combined monthly income of about 18 million VND, they might seem able to cover living expenses, but in reality they must carefully manage their spending each month. "If someone in the family gets sick or the children begin a new school year with many expenses, life becomes even more difficult," said Ha.

Speaking at the briefing and dialogue conference with the leaders of the Dong Nai Labor Federation, Le Minh Tuan, Chairman of the TU at Associate Yang Vietnam Enterprise Co., Ltd. in Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Park, said the company currently employs about 600 workers, with an average income of more than 9 million VND per person per month. Each year, the TU negotiates with the company to improve employee welfare and increase wages, particularly in the run-up to the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. However, he said that further improvements in workers' living conditions require additional welfare policies from higher-level TUs and local authorities.

Several grassroots TU officials said that surveys of employees’ living conditions show strong demand for affordable housing, a safe living environment, and schools and medical facilities near industrial parks. In Long Binh Ward, where many employees reside, there is only one public primary school, making it difficult for workers to secure school placements for their children. As a result, many families are compelled to send their children back to their hometowns to live with grandparents because they are unable to manage both their education and daily transportation. This has had a significant impact on employees' lives and psychological well-being.

Expanding activities to care for workers

In recent times, TUs at all levels in the city have implemented various programs to improve the lives of TU members. These include organizing "TU Meals," improving the quality of shift meals, enhancing working conditions, and expanding welfare programs. These initiatives have helped ease employees' difficulties while encouraging them to remain committed to their employers.

According to Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Labor Federation Bui Thi Bich Thuy, during the 2026 Tet, TUs at all levels provided support to nearly 66,000 TU members and employees facing difficult circumstances and presented 15,000 gifts, each worth 1 million VND, to members affected by workplace accidents, serious illnesses, unemployment, job loss, or unpaid wages and bonuses. The TU also organized the "TU Tet Market" program, "Tet Union Trains," and many other welfare and social security activities, reaffirming its role as a companion to employees.

At the same time, many enterprises have gradually adjusted wages and introduced additional allowances for rental housing, attendance, and fuel while investing in technology to improve working conditions and reduce labor intensity. However, amid rising prices and increasing expectations for a better quality of life, employees continue to expect more practical improvements in wage policies, social housing, healthcare, and social security.

TU officials noted that effectively addressing issues related to employment, income, housing, and social welfare would enable employees to stabilize their lives and remain with enterprises over the long term, thereby contributing to a harmonious labor environment and the sustainable development of Dong Nai.

Tran Van Luc, a worker in the wood production industry in Tam Phuoc Ward, said that orders have declined in recent years, resulting in lower incomes for employees. Meanwhile, current wages are sufficient only to cover essential expenses, including rent, electricity, water, food, and child-rearing costs. After covering their monthly living expenses, most workers have little or no savings left to prepare for unexpected risks or invest in the future. He said employees seek not only support during difficult periods but also a wage mechanism aligned with the cost of living, opportunities to access social housing, and a sustainable social security system.

To strengthen social security, improve living standards, and help enterprises retain human resources, grassroots TU officials recommended that authorities at all levels pay greater attention to expanding the network of schools and classrooms and consider utilizing vacant government office buildings to establish additional school facilities. They said that when workers' children have stable learning conditions, employees will feel more secure in remaining with their employers and continuing to contribute to the development of Dong Nai.

By Thao My – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha