Lives connected from the Lao Dong Newspaper page

A hand reaching out in adversity

After the explosion at SGI Vina Factory in Bac Chu Lai Industrial Park (Da Nang) in May 2025, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung and many colleagues had to be hospitalized for treatment with burns and injuries on their bodies.

While workers and their families were still in shock, representatives of the Golden Heart Labor Charity Fund and the Trade Union organization came to the hospital to visit. 12 injured workers were supported by the Fund with a total of 36 million VND; Da Nang Labor Federation supported an additional 24 million VND.

Help at this time is a great source of encouragement for us workers. Not just money, but a warm heart in times of hardship" - Mr. Hung said.

The amount of money is not large compared to the cost of treatment, but it is given at the right time when the worker has just gone through a serious accident. For them, what is precious is also the feeling that they are not alone.

A year earlier, the footprints of the workers of Lao Dong Newspaper went back up to the mountains of Da Nang. The family of Mr. Po Loong Loc, a union member of Phuoc Nang Commune (old), at that time had to rent a place to live after the house collapsed. He was sick, his wife was unemployed, and his children were young.

From the mobilized fund through the Golden Heart Fund of Lao Dong Newspaper, 50 million VND was supported to build a house. At the end of 2024, the house, about 130m2 wide, worth 125 million VND, was completed, helping Mr. Loc's family have a solid place to live before Tet. Also in the program, another house was awarded to poor household Nguyen Thi Xin in the old Nong Son area.

Not only sharing, but also speaking out to demand rights

Tran Khanh Phuong (from Phu Ninh) once lived in the days when her mother - a female worker - was often hospitalized due to accident sequelae. After school, Phuong and her younger sibling took turns doing housework and taking care of her mother. In the 2023-2024 school year, Phuong was one of 20 students to receive scholarships from the Golden Heart Labor Fund.

“That is a great encouragement for me to continue to overcome difficulties and strive to study” - Phuong shared. Such scholarships have been maintained by Lao Dong Newspaper and the Trade Union organization, supporting children of workers and union members in difficult circumstances before each new school year.

There are circumstances that need a home, a scholarship. But there are also times when what workers need most is a voice that is persistent enough so that their legitimate rights are not forgotten.

In 2023, more than 200 employees of Binh An General Hospital in Quang Nam fell into the situation of being owed salaries and prolonged social insurance. Lao Dong continuously reflected and closely followed the settlement process. By July 2023, more than 10 billion VND of salaries and social insurance had been paid to employees.

At the end of that year, 136 officials and doctors of Quang Nam Traditional Medicine Hospital also burst into tears when the debited salaries were paid right before Tet.

At Quang Nam Medical College (old), the story of more than 100 officials and lecturers being owed salaries, allowances, and social insurance continues to be closely followed by Lao Dong Newspaper. In April 2024, the investigating agency initiated a case related to violations at the school; then many school leaders were prosecuted.

It is estimated that in just one year, Lao Dong Newspaper has contributed to demanding more than 20 billion VND of salary and social insurance debt for hundreds of workers at these 3 units.

For many readers, Lao Dong Newspaper is not only present on each page, but also in the most difficult times of life. That companionship over the years has become a strong bond, nurtured by faith, sharing and affection.

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