‘Fair market’ for workers

After the shift, Ms. Le Thuy Hong, 36 years old, a worker of Duc Thanh Wood Company (Go Vap district) stopped at the convenience store that had just been set up at the factory gate to buy some supplies. Surfing a few stalls, comparing prices, she decided to buy a kilogram of sugar, a bag of MSG, a bottle of floor cleaner and a liter of fish sauce. The total amount she has to pay is 104,000 VND. Compared to buying at the grocery store, she saved 30,000 VND.

“In the midst of everything going up, I’m very happy when I see some discount stalls,” said Ms. Hong. Her monthly income is more than 6 million VND. The husband keeps the rental car, the salary is received by the day. The female worker said that she had to spend frugally to support two young children. Not only shopping for her family, she also bought for a few people in the neighborhood.

Ms. Hong is one of more than 300 workers of Duc Thanh wood factory shopping at a discount market organized by the union in collaboration with Fresh Mart Trade and Investment Co., Ltd. on May 9.

Ms. Le Thi Quyen, Chairman of the company’s union, said that before businesses put down the goods, a list of products with prices is sent to employees for reference. After the shopping day, the union will consult on the quality of the product. If the level of satisfaction is high, the market will reopen next month with many new items. At the market on May 9, the sales of Tuoi Mart Company reached about 30 million VND. With a maximum reduction of 30%, the total incentive for workers is nearly 10 million VND.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Do, Head of Policy and Law Department (Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation), the subsidized sales program for employees has been implemented by the city for nearly 5 years. Some essential food items, fashion… are reduced by 10-30% compared to the market. Since the beginning of this year, prices have increased rapidly along with the impact of Covid-19, worker’s life difficulty. Therefore, the union further promotes these programs by finding new partners, opening many sales points to workers’ accommodation and workplaces.

Specifically, in addition to the fixed sales points at the labor culture house, from now until the end of 2022, periodically on certain days of the month, the district and Thu Duc city’s trade unions will organize weekly welfare points. Working in factories and dormitories crowded with workers. About 250 essential items are committed to lower prices than the market for workers to choose.

Similarly, from March, Ho Chi Minh City Youth Support Center for Workers also implemented two programs “Utilities on site” and “Weekend bus” to support workers at 42 accommodation areas in the area. city ​​table.

Specifically, the center signed a cooperation agreement with the company to provide essential products and services for workers such as mineral water, gas cylinders, replacement of power – water lines, air conditioning repair, etc., with prices reduced from 10%. – 50% of the market.

With the “Weekend bus” program, the center cooperates with Happiness Supermarket to deliver necessities to accommodation areas. In addition to the commitment to quality assurance, the supplier sells a support price of 5%-10% compared to the market and free shipping.

As one of the units participating in workers’ subsidized markets for many years, Mr. Nguyen Long Tuoi, Director of Tuoi Mart Company, said that he had to calculate and manage many ways to get a low price for service. workers.

When signing contracts with suppliers and processing products, Tuoi Mart Company always includes the provision to keep prices stable in a certain period. So when the market price increases, the company can still ensure the source of goods. For partners that have not reached an agreement, businesses still reduce by 2,000-5,000 VND compared to the market. This amount is offset against the cost of the premises sponsored by the factory and the landlord.

In addition to organizing subsidized sales points, to help workers, in this year’s Workers’ Month, the city’s trade unions are expected to take care of 200,000 people with a budget of about 100 billion VND. Activities such as coordinating medical facilities to examine, health check for more than 10,000 cases of Covid-19, giving savings books to workers suffering from occupational accidents, supporting gifts and cash for difficult workers, suffering from serious diseases, losing jobs…

Le Tuyet