Over 150 workers on strike on March 19
Workers for Dong Bac Bus Company were on strike this morning, March 19, in Nghe An to highlight their interests.
Dong Bac Bus Company is a branch of Dong Bac Trade & Construction which is headquartered in Thanh Hoa.
Over 150 workers including drivers, ticket sellers, and long route inspectors had stopped working and flocked to the offices at Ben Thuy Ward, Vinh City, Nghe An Province with an aim of requesting that leaders of the company answer all questions regarding their interests.
According to workers, the company did not obey employment regulations such as providing labour contracts, social insurance, and forcing employees to exceed working hours (they have to work 12 to 16 hours per day instead of 8 hours as regulated).
In addition, they have ambiguous regulations on punishment as well as delaying their low-paid salary.
The company has operated for more than 9 months but still doesn’t have a trade union. However, workers are forced to pay trade union fees.
Phung Ngoc Vinh, a driver said, “I have been working for the company for 8 months but still don’t have a labour contract or the benefit of any social insurance. They pay me only VND210,000 ($11) per day to drive 450-500km.”
“Every worker has to deposit VND10 million ($526) for the company when they start working here but if anyone quits their job, the company will take away from them VND300,000 ($16) out of that VND10 million while they are supposed to return the whole amount of money.” said Nguyen Thanh Mau, a ticket seller.
Under such circumstances, leaders of the Transportation Department, Department of Labour, Invalids & Social Affairs as well as Labour Union of Nghe An Province and the police of Vinh City had a meeting with workers and leaders of the company to resolve the issue.
Local authorities held a meeting with the workers and leaders of the company
