14th Party Congress in the story of workers in the highlands

Hopefully, there will be more new policies to create conditions for workers

These days, the atmosphere towards the 14th National Party Congress has spread throughout the localities in the Northwest region. From the central streets of Lao Cai to the remote villages and border areas of Lai Chau, there are brilliant flags, banners and banners welcoming the Congress.

At lunch break in the ore processing workshop of a mining enterprise, Mr. Lu A Pao (a H'Mong in Si Ma Cai commune, Lao Cai province) and a group of workers discussed changes in wages and social benefits. For workers and laborers in the Northwest highlands, the Party Congress is where they send very specific wishes: stabilize your employment, have a living income, children get to study and a better future.

Mr. Lu A Pao has been working as a mining worker for nearly 8 years. Previously, his family mainly lived on corn and rice, and had many shortcomings all year round. When the mine was put into operation, Mr. Pao went to the mountains to work as a worker, earning a monthly salary and social insurance.

"We hope that after the 14th National Party Congress, there will be more new policies to create stable jobs for workers, increase their income...", Mr. Pao shared.

Not only in Lao Cai, in industrial parks and agricultural and forestry processing factories in Lai Chau, the atmosphere towards the Party Congress also spread in a very unique way. Union activities and concise and easy-to-understand propaganda sessions are held right at workshops and construction sites. The content focuses on issues related to workers' lives.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, a worker at a wood processing factory, said: "We were informed by the union about the Congress and policies related to workers. Hearing that makes me feel cared for and listened to.

Expectations sent to the Congress

It is easy to see that the expectations of workers in the Northwest towards the Party Congress all originate from real life. Many people have experienced unemployment when businesses have reduced production, or have to work far away due to lack of jobs in the locality.

"We hope that the Party and State will continue to have policies to attract businesses to the highlands, but it must go hand in hand with ensuring the rights of workers", said Mr. Lo A Su (Thai ethnic group), a worker at an agricultural processing facility in Moc Chau Industrial Park, Son La province. According to Mr. Su, having a factory right in the locality helps ethnic minority workers not have to leave their hometowns, but have an income and take care of their families.

In addition to employment and income, housing and social welfare issues are also a concern for many workers. "Workers' salaries are enough to cover their living expenses, but it is very difficult to buy a house. I hope that in the coming time, there will be more social housing for workers, especially in mountainous communes," Mr. Su added.

For young workers, the story of training, improving skills, and adapting to digital transformation is also mentioned more often. "We hope that the Congress will continue to have decisions so that workers can learn a trade and improve their skills, especially ethnic minority workers. Only with skills can I feel secure in staying with the company for a long time, said Ms. Vu Thi Mai.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Nhiem - President of Lao Cai Provincial Labor Federation shared: In the journey of propagating the Party Congress, the role of the Trade Union organization is clearly demonstrated in enterprises: Not only propagating and disseminating policies, the Trade Union is also a place to listen to and collect opinions and recommendations from workers to reflect to superiors.

According to Ms. Nhiem, in many units, grassroots unions also organize to collect opinions from union members and workers on urgent issues, thereby synthesizing and making recommendations in the process of drafting Congress documents. This makes workers feel their role and position in general development more clearly.

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