Over 300 employees of Korea-invested apparel firm strike work in central Vietnam province

Upset by late salary payment, 320 employees of South Korea-invested Sein Together Vinh Vina Company Limited, an apparel business in Nghe An province, struck work Friday morning.

According to signed labor agreements, monthly wages are to be paid on the tenth day of the next month. However, as of Thursday, January wages had not been paid and some workers refused to work, demanding payment. On Friday morning, more workers came to the factory but did not work over salary payment concerns.

The firm’s management said that with many workers seeking cash payment during the Lunar New Year season, more time was needed to prepare the payment. A majority of employees resumed work after the management promised to make due payments by Friday.

The management did not accept workers’ demand for higher wages, accumulation of holidays, better meals and payment based on working hours instead of output. They said the firm would raise wages in line with regulations that will increase minimum zonal wages in July.

The firm is investing in expansion and would sign many contracts in order to improve staff incomes, the management said.

As recommended by local authorities, it was decided to let workers have Saturday and Sunday off; and for normal work to resume Monday.

Sein Together Vinh Vina, formerly known as local business TAAD Nghe An, was transferred to a South Korean investor last month.

Vietnam recorded 60 labor strikes in 2023, down 86 year-on-year, according to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the head of all labor unions in the country. The common causes were disagreements related to wage hikes, delayed wage payment, social insurance payment, Tet bonuses and reduced work.