A pillar helping workers feel secure at work

Occupational accidents can debilitate workers, diminish their ability to work, and even result in fatalities. As such, ensuring occupational safety and health (OSH) remains a top priority, receiving active attention and collaboration from organizations and enterprises.

Workers of Thuan Loi Rubber Co. Ltd. are fully equipped with protective gear at work. Photo: Vu Thuyen

Being fully guaranteed benefits and policies, having higher income, and avoiding occupational accidents or health deterioration are always the aspirations of workers and the goals of enterprises and investors, to create a safe working environment that helps workers feel secure and ensures sustainable development.

“Safety for production, production must be safe”

The 29-classroom project at Tan Phu Secondary School (Binh Phuoc Ward, Dong Nai Province), invested by the Dong Xoai Investment and Construction Management Board, broke ground in late July 2025. The project is expected to be completed within seven months, allowing for prompt operation. With limited time and a heavy workload, the contractor has had to mobilize maximum workforce and equipment, working around the clock, including on holidays. Quach Anh Hoan, site commander, shared: “Although the schedule is tight, the contractor does not ‘jump the fence’ by neglecting worker safety, especially for civil construction projects. In addition to providing helmets and gloves for workers, we have installed full perimeter fencing, ensured compliance with fire prevention and firefighting requirements, and guaranteed the safe use of machinery during construction.”

The slogan “Safety for production, production must be safe” is understood here as a two-way principle: safety is the foundation for production, and production must strictly comply with safety standards. In addition to civil works, at manufacturing and processing plants, especially those processing rubber latex, OSH is always a top priority for business owners. A clear example is the Thuan Dung Rubber Latex Processing Factory under Thuan Loi Rubber Co. Ltd. (Thuan Loi Commune, Dong Nai Province). To ensure sustainable production, the company places strong emphasis on OSH while also maintaining a green, clean, friendly, and environmentally conscious working environment.

“The company’s message to workers is always ‘Safety for production, production must be safe’. Regularly, the company organizes OSH training courses, fully equips workers with protective gear, invests in advanced machinery to reduce heavy manual labor and emissions, and commends and rewards individuals who perform well in OSH and show creativity in labor and production,” says Vo Quang Hieu, Deputy General Director of Thuan Loi Rubber Co. Ltd.

Recognizing OSH as a foundation for sustainable development, both domestic enterprises and foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises implement comprehensive solutions to enhance worker satisfaction.

Covering more than three hectares, FTT Vina Co. in Long Khanh Industrial Park (Binh Loc Ward, Dong Nai Province) has not only built workshops and production areas but also planted a diverse range of green trees and ornamental plants along its corridors and walkways, creating a vibrant and colorful landscape. Inside the production workshops, in addition to spacious and clean working spaces, the company has fully equipped its facilities with tools and machinery to ensure optimal conditions for workers, promoting safety, comfort, reduced physical strain, and improved productivity. With a workforce of over 700 employees, the company has maintained stable operations for many years, with no reported occupational accidents.

Tran Van Don, Vice Chairman of the grassroots trade union of FTT Vina Co., shares that company leaders and the grassroots trade union always pay close attention to OSH for every individual. Every year, OSH training is organized, especially for new workers, and after seven years of operation, the company has not recorded any occupational accidents.

Along with ensuring timely and adequate benefits and policies, the grassroots trade union also organizes many healthy and meaningful activities. These efforts help improve workers’ material and spiritual life, enabling them to feel secure in long-term attachment to the enterprise. Tran Van Don notes that to enhance workers’ well-being, the union coordinates with the company to organize annual parties, creating opportunities for workers to interact and bond through cultural, artistic, and sports activities. This endeavor helps build strong trust, allowing workers to dedicate themselves to the enterprise with confidence in the long term.

Ensuring workers’ rights

Dong Nai Province ranks among the leading localities nationwide in terms of industrial parks, enterprises, and workforce, with over 1.4 million people employed in organizations and businesses. The Provincial Federation of Labor currently manages around 2,300 grassroots trade unions, representing over 700,000 union members working in industrial parks and clusters.

In recent years, trade union organizations at all levels have collaborated with functional agencies to conduct hundreds of inspections and supervision visits at enterprises, focusing on compliance with labor laws and matters that directly affect workers. As a result, many enterprises have been found to comply sufficiently with legal regulations. At the same time, violations have been identified and recommended for corrective action, particularly in areas such as social insurance debt, occupational accidents, and occupational diseases.

Nguyen Duc Thang, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Federation of Labor

Building on the results achieved, the Provincial Federation of Labor will continue enhancing the capacity of grassroots trade union officials, while stepping up dialogue and negotiations to improve the quality of collective labor agreements. At the same time, trade unions at all levels will work closely with relevant agencies to inspect and monitor the enforcement of labor laws and OSH regulations. Coordination with the Department of Home Affairs will also continue to ensure the annual launch of Workers’ Month and the Action Month on OSH.

Special attention will be devoted to supporting union members through initiatives such as Trade Union Shelters, Tet Reunion, and Trade Union Meals, programs aimed at helping workers feel secure and stay committed to their workplaces, thereby contributing to harmonious, stable, and progressive labor relations. This endeavor, in turn, supports enterprises in fulfilling their production and business objectives and contributes to local socio-economic development.

By Vu Thuyen – Translated by Thuc Oanh, Minho