In light of the complicated developments of the coronavirus pandemic, many enterprises operating Da Nang have focused on ensuring income and social welfare to retain their employees aimed at driving their post-pandemic production recovery.

Enterprises in Da Nang have given top priority to ensuring social welfare to retain employees. IN THE PHOTO: Workers are seen working at the 29 March Textiles and Garments JSC. Photo: KHANH HOA

Choosing employees instead of revenue and profit

Over the past few months, many enterprises in Da Nang such as the Da Nang Rubber JSC, VBPO JSC, and 29 March Textiles and Garments JSC, have flexibly carried out employee retention strategies. Specifically-mentioned are paying hotel rental fees for workers to carry out the ‘three-on-the-spot’ (on-site working, on-site dining and on-site resting) production model, and increasing monthly wages and bonuses to encourage employees to improve their productivity.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Da Nang branch of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI Da Nang), the highest rate of enterprises maintaining limited operation during a more than 3-month period of social distancing was reported in the processing-manufacturing industry at 37.97%, followed by the information technology, handicraft export and paper production industry at 21.52%, and the transportation and warehousing industry at 12.66%.

Despite a decline in manufacturing capacity due to COVID-19 pandemic, most businesses in the city only reduced wages and shifted employees to part-time work, without cutting staff.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Quang, Director of VCCI Da Nang, said that in the most difficult times, many businesses have chosen to protect the rights of workers instead of profit goals.

He added reaching the high consensus of workforce is one of the prerequisites to help many businesses in the city still maintain operations and supply chains, and accelerate the restart of production and business activities as soon as the pandemic is brought under control. This has been a bright spot in the pandemic prevention and control in tandem with ensuring the social welfare for workers of the business community in particular, and the city in general in recent years.

Thanks to that, city-based businesses did not face brain drain although the 4^th wave of COVID-19 infections in the city lasted for several months. This helps them quickly restart production and business activities with a capacity of more than 90% as soon as the city returns to a new normal.

Despite many difficulties and challenges sparked by the complicated developments of COVID-19, many businesses try their best to ensure a stable source of income for their workers to maintain production activities. IN THE PHOTO: Workers are working at the Bac Dau Co., Ltd located at the Tho Quang Fishery Service Industrial Park, Son Tra District. Photo: KHANH HOA

Continue to stand side-by-side with employees

In a series of recommendations and solutions to help enterprises quickly recover production activities, the contents related to ensuring the rights of workers are always put first by business associations.

Recently, Da Nang-based government departments and agencies have taken numerous solutions to assist businesses to retain their workers, thereby ensuring the goal of accelerating their production at the end of the year.

Specifically, the Trade Union organisation of the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Parks (IZs) and Trade Unions has spent more than VND 1.2 billion on supporting 2,520 members who lose their jobs, have their income reduced or have their labour contracts suspended temporarily due to COVID-19, as well as those who become F0 cases and are pregnant.

Also, the organisation presented essential items to 50 workers who were living in rental properties, as well as gave gifts to 11 businesses facing difficulties triggered by COVID-19, with a total amount of VND125 million.

In addition, a combined total of VND 6.418 billion has been spent on providing free meals for 6,418 union members in 64 enterprises , and supplying 260 tons of vegetables, tubers and fruits to more than 80 businesses for implementing the ‘three-on-the-spot’ model.

“During this month, around VND 3.6 billion will be poured into supporting workers in difficult circumstances. In particular, F0 workers will receive VND 3 million each, while VND 1.5 million will go to F1 and F2 cases in difficult circumstances” said Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trung, Chairman of the Trade Union organisation of the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and IPs.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Quang stressed the need for the municipal Social Insurance Department to simplify administrative procedures and quickly provide unemployment insurance allowances from the State Social Insurance Fund to local workers in a bid to help them overcome their current financial hardship.

Reporting by KHANH HOA - Translating by M.DUNG