Workers of Nidec Copal Company in Tan Thuan Processing Zone, HCM City, were vacinated to prevent disease. Care for workers' health was one of the ways to reduce strikes. (Photo: VNS)There have been 45 labour strikes in HCM City this year, mostly at foreign firms in the footwear, electronics, and garment and textile sectors, 16 fewer in the same period last year. 

They were mostly triggered by the firms' failure to increase wages and allowances to match rising prices.

To resolve labour disputes, city authorities have been organising discussions between owners and workers to help the two sides understand each other.

By the end of May the city Trade Union had organised 3,634 such meetings.

"Local authorities should increase labour inspections," Hua Ngoc Thuan, deputy chairman of the city People's Committee, on Tuesday told a meeting of a steering committee held to develop stable labour relations at enterprises.

This year 647 cases of labour problems have been investigated, with 215 enterprises fined for violations.

"In June the city will set up four task forces each led by a People's Committee deputy chairperson to resolve difficulties and promote production and ensure jobs for workers," Thuan added.

At the meeting, committee deputy secretary Nguyen Thi Thu Ha called on relevant authorities to clearly understand about the working and living needs, both mental and physical, of workers.

"Ensuring payment of salary and allowance and stable house rent, supplying good and reasonably-priced goods, and providing cultural activities for workers are necessary," she said.

She also ordered the concerned authorities to draft regulations to prevent and resolve labour strikes by August.

The city has prevailed upon 59,000 out of a total of 65,400 house owners renting places to workers to keep rents unchanged, and indirectly assisted 1.1 million (out of 1.23 million) low-income people.

Besides, 5,200 trade unions have organised cultural activities and 5,000 workers have got free medical check-up since the beginning of this year. 

Source: VNS