Coaches line up in early morning, ready to carry workers from Hanoi to their hometowns (Photo: congdoanhanoi.org.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Businesses, industrial zones andhospitals nationwide have been getting into the Tet (Lunar New Year)spirit and providing free transport to allow workers and patients travel hometo spend the holiday with their families.
The Labour Federation of southern Binh Duongprovince on January 31 arranged free-of-charge coaches to take 1,000 poorworkers to their hometowns. They are among 5,000 workers to get free bus travelto their hometowns in the province.
Tran Van Nam, Secretary of the provincial PartyCommittee, said the province is populated by more than 2.3 millionpeople, and more than a half of them were workers coming from other provinces.
“Thus provincial leaders always try our best sothat all workers have better physical and mental lives,” said Nam.
Nguyen Thi My Thu, from the central province ofQuang Binh, has worked in Binh Duong for eight years.
“When Tet holiday is coming, peopleliving far from home like me want to go back home. Understanding our desire,the provincial labour federation supported us and also gave us meaningfulpresents,” she said.
Truong Thi Bich Hanh, chairwoman of thefederation, said trade unions in the province also gave free meals for workersfor their journeys home.
It is the 10th year the provincial labour sectorhas provided free coaches for workers for the Lunar New Year holidays. As manyas 25,000 workers have benefited from the programme.
Also on January 31 morning, 20 free buses tookmore than 600 poor cancer patients from the K Hospital in Hanoi to theirhometowns to enjoy the holiday.
The programme was organised by the K Hospital,in coordination with the Cancer Patient Support Fund, the Vietnam Young DoctorsAssociation and other partners.
Pham Trung Tuyen, a patient, said that he usedto be the bread winner in his family, but contracted stomach cancer. His familyhas struggled to make ends meet during his two years of treatment.
“The free bus and presents from hospital leadersmake all of us happy,” he said.
Other hospitals including the National BurnHospital, the National Paediatrics Hospital and Bach Mai Hospital have helpedpatients return home.
Earlier on January 30, the HCM City LabourFederation worked with trade unions of the municipal industrial zones toarrange 36 coaches to take more than 1,500 workers home.
Dang Thi Toan, went together with her smalldaughter from the Linh Trung 1 Export Processing Zone where she works to herhome in the northern province of Thai Binh.
“I could not sleep during the previous nightbecause I wanted to come home. The feeling is difficult to express,” said Toan.
Dinh Thi Thanh Tam, from the central province ofThanh Hoa, said she hadn’t been able to go home for four years.
“Thanks to the programme, I can go to myhometown. I’m really excited all the time,” she said.
Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, chairwoman of the citylabour federation, said municipal leaders hoped all workers could go homesafely, happily and would come back to work on time after the holiday.
Huynh Van Tuan, Chairman of the HCM CityIndustrial Zone and Processing Zone Trade Union, said the city would organise atotal of 96 buses to take more than 4,000 workers to their hometowns.
On February 1, theHanoi Federation of Labour also hired 36 coaches to carry 1,600 disadvantagedworkers to their homes in central Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces towelcome Tet.
Nguyen Thi Tuyen, chairwomanof the Hanoi Federation of Labour, said the free-of-charge coach programme hasbeen organised for 11 consecutive years so far.
The programme hashelped disadvantaged workers to save money and have a strong attachment totheir companies, she added.
The same day, theVietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited(Vinacomin) arranged more than 100 coaches to take 5,000 workers home for Tet.The corporation will also send coaches to bring the workers back to work at theend of the holiday.
Trade unions atdifferent levels across the capital together spent more than 30 billion VND(1.28 million USD) on supporting workers on Tet. Of the sum, the municipallabour federation contributed some 7.46 billion VND (320,000 USD). As a result,about 2,000 coaches brought more than 80,000 workers home, and over 65,000gifts were presented to the targeted workers.-VNA
VNA
