Sports activities give workers a boost

After hours on the factory floor, sports activities organized by Trade Unions give workers opportunities to stay fit, relieve stress, socialize, and strengthen bonds with their colleagues.

Medals are presented to top-performing teams at the 2026 Dong Nai City Workers, Public Employees and Laborers Football Tournament organized by the Dong Nai City Federation of Labor.

Seemingly simple activities can make a meaningful difference to workers' spiritual well-being, helping them recharge and return to work with renewed energy.

Strengthening bonds

For workers, good health is essential to maintaining stable employment. However, the nature of factory work means that many spend most of their day at work. Sports activities, therefore, serve not only as opportunities for physical exercise but also as spaces where workers can relax, socialize, and build solidarity.

Recently, the grassroots Trade Union of Vietnam Dona Orient Co., Ltd. in Binh Minh Commune organized a sports festival that attracted 13 teams and more than 500 workers from different production workshops. Events included tug-of-war, ball passing, sack races, and modern dance. On the playing field, workers accustomed to production lines became enthusiastic athletes. Some competed with determination while others cheered passionately from the sidelines. Cheers and handshakes after each match helped bring workers closer together.

"I was very happy and nervous to take part in the sports festival, especially when competing for a place in the final. What I enjoyed most was working with my teammates, giving our best, and creating beautiful memories together. I hope the Trade Union and company will organize more sports activities so workers can stay healthy, improve their physical fitness, relieve stress, and have more energy to perform their jobs well," said Le Thi Bich Huyen, a worker at Dong Phuong Vietnam Co., Ltd.

Sports activities organized by Trade Unions are becoming increasingly diverse, including football, badminton, tug-of-war, running, skipping rope, and pickleball, giving workers more options that suit their health and interests.

Nguyen Thi Mai Chi, Chairwoman of the grassroots Trade Union at Far Eastern New Apparel (Viet Nam) Limited in Bac Dong Phu Industrial Park, said the company employs more than 3,500 workers, creating strong demand for cultural and sports activities. The trade union, therefore, regularly introduces new sports programs tailored to workers' needs.

According to Mai Chi, the FENV Cup 2026 football tournament was recently launched, attracting 14 men's and women's teams from across the company. The tournament not only created an enthusiastic competitive atmosphere but also provided opportunities for workers from different departments to meet, socialize, and strengthen their bonds. Such activities contribute to building a positive, united workplace and improving workers' cultural and spiritual well-being.

Through seemingly simple sports activities, Trade Union-led programs are helping create positive energy among workers. That energy extends beyond the playing field, providing additional motivation for work, production, and cooperation with enterprises.

Recharging the workforce

In recent times, Trade Unions at all levels have been shifting toward more practical, grassroots-oriented activities, putting union members and workers at the center. Cultural and sports programs are increasingly designed around workers' actual needs, strengthening their ties with Trade Union organizations. The success of numerous sports programs demonstrates that sports are becoming an increasingly important part of workers' lives.

The 2026 Dong Nai City Workers, Public Employees and Labor Football Tournament, organized by the city's Federation of Labor, has attracted 88 teams and nearly 2,000 athletes from grassroots trade unions. The teams competed in qualifying rounds across four areas, with nearly 200 matches played in total. Recently, the 16 teams advancing to the finals were drawn into their matchups, determined to deliver exciting games and compete for the highest honors. The finals are expected to become a vibrant sports festival, helping promote physical fitness among union members and workers.

Workers at Vietnam Dona Orient Co., Ltd. in Binh Minh Commune take part in a sports festival organized jointly by the grassroots Trade Union and the company.

According to Bui Thi Bich Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai City Federation of Labor, the football tournament attracted numerous teams from a wide range of industries, organizations, and enterprises. The qualifying matches were played in a spirit of solidarity and drew strong support from union members and workers. The tournament has encouraged workers to exercise regularly and improve their health, enabling them to work more effectively.

Beyond physical exercise, sports festivals also give workers opportunities to have fun, showcase their talents, and, more importantly, connect with their colleagues. Many workers are willing to spend time after a day at the factory playing football, badminton, or pickleball, or exercising with coworkers.

Tran Thi Duyen, General Director of Administration at Dong Phuong Co., Ltd., said sustainable development requires businesses to invest not only in machinery and technology but, more importantly, in building a healthy, united workforce with shared goals. "Sports activities give employees opportunities to meet, socialize, and strengthen solidarity. They also encourage workers to develop healthy exercise habits and build a strong, cohesive workforce," Duyen said.

After work, workers have more healthy spaces for exercise, social interaction, and community activities. For sports programs to truly become part of workers' daily lives, they need to be maintained regularly, diversified, and adapted to the conditions of each enterprise. This will not only improve workers' health but also help them feel more clearly the care and support of trade unions and employers.

The spirit of sports should spread from recreational activities into workers' everyday lives. Machinery and technology can be invested in and upgraded, but people remain the foundation of an enterprise's long-term development. Caring for workers' health and spiritual well-being is therefore also an investment in sustainable growth.

Tran Thi Duyen, General Director of Administration, Dong Phuong Co., Ltd.

By Nguyen Hoa – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho