Supermarket "Union Mart" operating since October 16 at the social housing apartment complex of Hoa Khanh Industrial Park in Lien Chieu District is a new model created by the Trade Union of Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Zones in collaboration with IP Food-Technology Joint Stock Company to improve the welfare of union members and workers.

Laborers are shopping at the "Union Mart" supermarket.

After 2 years of being negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the life of union members and employees has encountered tons of difficulties. Therefore, the Trade Union of Hi-Tech Parks and Industrial Zones has recently put into operation the subsidized supermarket "Union Mart" housing nearly 20 stalls selling dry and fresh food, as well as essential items for workers.

According to Ms Le Thi Van, a worker at Pi Vina Co., Ltd in Hoa Khanh Industrial Park, Lien Chieu District, during tough days of the pandemic, she used to wish there was a place to sell cheap and quality goods for workers since it was really hard to purchase things at that time. She's so glad because it's now a reality and will procure foods in this supermarket often.

In a similar vein, Ms Duong Thi Be, a worker at Matrix Vietnam Co., Ltd in Hoa Khanh Industrial Park, Lien Chieu District said that “The food here is very fresh with trade union- subsidized price for workers. Moreover, we are also given a voucher worth VND 200,000 from the "Welfare packages of Trade Union ", so I am becoming a regular customer”.

After nearly two months of operation, "Union Mart" partly meets the demands of employees with a host of quality and safe products with stable prices. This is also the first supermarket model in the program "Welfare for union members- Union Mart " aiming to improve the welfare of union members and employees.

As shared by Mr Hoang Trong Hoa, Director of the supermarket, the supermarket will continue to coordinate with the Trade Union of Hi-Tech Parks and Industrial Zone, as well as other partners and brands to organize many welfare programs, preferential sales, in tandem with creating more conditions for employees to enjoy good policies on prices in the coming time.

Moreover, IP Food-Technology Joint Stock Company is also committed to improving quality to bring better and affordable products to employees, along with building ready-made food combos to ensure nutrition for workers, at the same time deducting profits from supermarkets to build cultural institutions serving the families of workers locally.

The supermarket model "Welfare for union members - Union Mart" has been the result of a great effort of the Trade Union of Hi-Tech Parks & Industrial Zones together with its partners to bring practical benefits to employees. This is a worthy model for trade unions at all levels to follow, especially when workers' lives are facing many difficulties such as job loss, underemployment and reduced income due to the impact of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Reporting by NGOC CHAN- Translating by T.VY