Striking employees return to work at Taiwan-invested footwear firm in central Vietnam

All 7,000 employees of Taiwan-invested footwear maker Viet Glory Co. Ltd. in Nghe An province returned to work Monday morning, a week after striking work demanding better pay and working conditions.

After the labor strike began on October 2, over 1,000 workers returned to work last Friday and another 1,500 the next day. They resumed work after the firm announced higher allowances and bonuses, as also contract termination for anyone not returning to work after a week.

In particular, the firm increased workers’ monthly transportation allowance by 50%, from VND260,000 to VND390,000 ($16); and meal support by 20%, from VND20,000 to VND24,000 ($0.98) per head per meal. The firm also doubled bonuses for meeting output requirements.

Last Friday, local police summoned several people for investigating alleged disinformation and manipulation of workers to instigate a strike.

At a working session with provincial labor authorities last Wednesday, representatives of the firm said workers can make proposals to the company directly without resorting to making proposals via a labor strike.

The company also admitted to its own weak communication with employees, especially in explaining policies, while clarifying that it had not received any complaints from workers prior to the strike.

It is a great concern that workers solely use labor strikes to make demands, said Nguyen Chi Cong, deputy head of Nghe An province’s labor union. He said such strikes would negatively impact businesses, workers’ interests and the province’s investment environment. He called on employers and employees to cooperate better with each other with the help of the labor union.