Despite having faced difficulties and challenges triggered by the global coronavirus crisis and natural disasters in 2020, many Da Nang-based businesses are still managing to pay bonuses to their employees in an effort to help them enjoy a warm and happy Tet (Lunar New Year).

Workers at the 29 March Textiles and Garments Company

In reality, in addition to needing to be on stable monthly payrolls, workers also rely on other important benefits, such as employers’ social insurance contributions and the traditional 13^th month Tet bonus - an extra month’s salary at the end of the lunar year, which many people need to use to prepare for Tet- the biggest festival in a year for Vietnamese as it is an occasion for family reunion.

In a recent week, Nguyen Thi Hang and Le Thi Bich Tram, both workers of the Fujikura Automotive Viet Nam Co., Ltd., located in the Hoa Cam Industrial Park (IP), have been busy moving furniture from a humid rental property in Cam Le District’s Hoa Tho Tay Ward into their new apartment in an affordable housing development for IP workers.

Besides, Hang and Tram expressed their happiness at being announced that their company would offer Tet bonuses to all employees, and this year's Tet bonuses are still the same as last year’s. In addition, the IP’s Trade Union will give cash donations of 500,000 VND each to support its members in difficult circumstances.

Leader of the Liwayway Da Nang Food Industry Co., Ltd., said Tet bonus is important for workers because it is a source of great encouragement for their contribution after a hard- working year. Fully aware of this expectation, the Board of Directors of the company has strived to maintain some balance between revenues and expenditures in 2020 in order to reward employees who have joined the efforts with their company to deal with a year of business hardships sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Workers involving repair and maintenance services for cars are expected to receive Tet bonus of between 5 and 7 million VND each

Mr Nguyen Thanh Trung, Chairman of the Trade Union of the Authority of Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Zones, said this year, all 470 companies located in IPs across the city reported they would offer a Tet bonus to all employees despite the adverse impact of the pandemic and natural disasters.

“With seafood processing, and textiles and garments businesses as the much affected by the pandemic, their employees will receive between 1 and 3 million VND bonus for Tet” Chairman Trung said.

Notably, numerous meaningful programmes, including ‘Tet Yeu Thuong’ (Tet of Love) and ‘zero-dong Fair for Workers’, will be organised in the city.

At the ‘Tet Yeu Thuong’ (Tet of Love) programme, the Trade Union of the Authority of Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Zones will donate Tet gifts, valued at 500,000 VND, to 1,000 poor workers.

Meanwhile, during the ‘zero-dong Fair for Workers’, workers facing financial hardship will be allowed to choose and buy favourite products on display totalling a maximum of 300,000VND at this special fair for zero dong.

Additionally, free coaches are scheduled to bring a combined total of 1,600 migrant poor workers back to their hometowns to celebrate Tet with their families.

By THANH VAN - Translated by M.D