How Trade Unions in Ho Chi Minh City help workers save daily living expenses

On October 7th, Ms. Nguyen Thi Loan (resident of Ben Thanh ward) was excited when she held in her hand two bottles of cooking oil and laundry detergent just bought at a preferential price at the "Vietnam Goods Sales Point - Union Member Welfare Point" on Pho Duc Chinh street, Ben Thanh ward.

As a direct beneficiary of the program, Ms. Loan shared: "I find this model very convenient. Difficult workers can buy discounted goods, saving some of the living costs in the family.

Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Huynh Vinh Lam - Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ben Thanh Ward, Chairman of the Ben Thanh Ward Trade Union, said that through contact, dialogue and grasping the thoughts and aspirations of union members and workers, the locality realizes that the biggest need is still practical support, associated with daily life. These wishes focus on four main groups including meals, essential consumer goods, health care and support for workers' children, along with support when oneself or one's family encounters adversity, illness, job loss or sudden difficulties.

Currently, Ben Thanh Ward Trade Union manages 427 grassroots trade unions with 32,743 union members and about 40,763 workers. Due to the characteristics of the central area concentrating many businesses, business households, service establishments, commerce and tourism, the labor structure here is quite diverse. The biggest pressure on this labor force is high living costs, in which rent, electricity, water, food, travel, tuition fees and expenses for children account for a significant proportion. In addition, the income of workers in the service and tourism sectors also depends on working hours, revenue and seasonality.

Starting from the reality that the price of premises and business costs in the central area are very high, Ben Thanh Ward Trade Union raised the issue of how to have preferential shopping points for workers right in this area. The Trade Union has coordinated with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the ward and ward socio-political organizations to connect businesses, manufacturers, and distributors to bring quality Vietnamese goods to the people.

According to Mr. Lam, the program does not operate in the direction of purely sponsorship but builds mutually beneficial cooperative relations, proposing that businesses apply separate price policies with actual reductions from 10% to 30%, clearly listing and ensuring quality origin.

This savings level is not too large in each purchase, but if maintained regularly, it will create significant value for the family budget," Mr. Lam said.

In parallel with the preferential sales point, Ben Thanh Ward Trade Union deploys a comprehensive care system. In terms of materials, the unit focuses on supporting union members in difficult circumstances, suffering from serious illnesses, accidents, mobilizing resources for the Trade Union Shelter and taking care of union members' children. In terms of health, the trade union focuses on health check-ups, health consultations and labor safety and hygiene propaganda. In terms of spirit, cultural, artistic, and sports activities are organized regularly to create a cohesive environment.

Mr. Huynh Vinh Lam emphasized the overarching goal: "Do not let a union member in difficulty have to fend for themselves alone when the Trade Union can connect resources to support".

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