When Trade Union Meal adds a taste of care

A mid-shift meal not only meets workers' basic needs but also provides a valuable break for them to rest and recharge after hours of work.

Under the Trade Union Meal program, the mid-shift meal is not only enhanced with better-quality dishes and more generous portions, but also accompanied by smiles, handshakes, and sincere conversations from company leaders and trade union officials. These gestures add a special “flavor” to the meal,  the flavor of sharing, care, and solidarity.

Warm and caring meals

The Trade Union Meal program is organized by grassroots Trade Unions in coordination with employers. The model is increasingly being expanded and has become a notable initiative in caring for union members and workers. Beyond improving daily meals, the program provides workers with opportunities to be heard, cared for, and experience more clearly the support of their Trade Union organization.

Trade union officials and workers at Olympus Vietnam Co., Ltd. in An Phuoc Commune share a friendly conversation during a Trade Union Meal.

Last July, more than 1,000 workers of  Vietnam Caesar Sanitary Wares Joint Stock Company in Nhon Trach Ward took part in a Trade Union Meal in a lively atmosphere. Each meal was worth VND90,000 and included fried shrimp, braised pork, stir-fried vegetables, chicken soup, and desserts. What moved many workers was not only the improved quality of the meal, but also the fact that company leaders and Trade Union officials sat down and ate with them, chatting as though they were members of the same family.

Nguyen Thi Lan, a worker who has been with the company for nearly eight years, said: “What makes me happiest is the feeling that we are cared for. Trade Union officials come to each table to ask about our work, health, and family life. It makes us feel that the distance between the company and workers has become much smaller.”

At Olympus Vietnam Co., Ltd. in An Phuoc Commune, a Trade Union Meal was held for nearly 2,000 workers in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Company leaders and Trade Union officials sat and ate together with workers. With formal barriers set aside, conversations about work and family life took place openly and comfortably.

Nguyen Thuy Le Hong Phan, Chairwoman of the company's Grassroots Trade Union, said: “A meal may not be able to change everything, but it is a very effective bridge for building trust. When workers feel that they are cared for, respected, and supported by the company and the trade union, they feel more secure and are motivated to work more productively. That is also the core value that trade union welfare activities seek to promote.”

Strengthening bonds between Trade Unions and workers

According to the Dong Nai City Federation of Labor, the Trade Union Meal program has become a practical model of worker care, helping improve the quality of mid-shift meals, strengthen dialogue, and build harmonious, stable, and progressive labor relations within enterprises.

A warm Trade Union Meal at  Vietnam Caesar Sanitary Wares Joint Stock Company

Workers are not the only ones who appreciate the warmth of the Trade Union Meal. Many companies also regard the program as an opportunity to express their gratitude to employees who work day and night and contribute to the growth and success of their organizations. It is also a way for companies and trade unions to strengthen their bonds and create a more humane workplace where workers feel valued and respected.

Joining a Trade Union Meal with more than 35,000 workers at TKG Taekwang Vina Joint Stock Company in Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Park, Nguyen Thi Tuyet, Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai City Federation of Labor, emphasized that city-level trade unions have consistently identified improving the quality of mid-shift meals as a practical solution to caring for union members. Many grassroots Trade Unions have proactively negotiated with companies to increase meal allowances, add nutritious dishes, improve canteen conditions, and ensure food safety and hygiene.

According to Tuyet, the Trade Union Meal program has gained momentum among businesses across the city. Behind every nutritious and satisfying meal is the joint effort of Trade Unions and companies to improve workers' material and spiritual well-being. This helps strengthen trust, motivates workers to remain committed to their jobs and stay with their companies for the long term, while also contributing to harmonious, stable, and sustainable labor relations.

Amid a new context and evolving development requirements, building a skilled workforce that remains committed to businesses over the long term has become increasingly important. A Trade Union Meal cannot immediately change workers' lives, but it is through such simple gestures that trust is nurtured, helping to forge an increasingly strong bond between businesses and workers.

Many workers expressed hope that the program would not only be held during peak periods but would also be organized more regularly. Le Thi Thu, a worker at  Vietnam Caesar Sanitary Wares Joint Stock Company, said that while income is an important factor, the working environment, welfare benefits, and the company's care for employees are the factors that help workers remain with the company over the long term.

Perhaps the greatest value of a Trade Union Meal does not lie in adding a few tens of thousands of VND to the cost of a meal or putting an extra dish on the table. What remains is the feeling of being cared for, valued, and heard. When workers smile after their mid-shift meal, and when company leaders and Trade Union representatives sit down together to discuss their concerns, that is also when humane values are nurtured.

By Nguyen Hoa – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho