Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) – A train departed from Saigon Railway Station in Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of February 10 (the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month), carrying nearly 3,000 trade union members and disadvantaged workers back to their hometowns to celebrate the Lunar New Year (Tet).
The programme, organised by the municipal Federation of Labour, aims to subsidise travel costs and provide moral support so that workers can confidently return home for family reunions after a year of working far away.
According to Bui Thanh Nhan, the chairperson of the federation, more than 60% of the city’s workforce consists of migrant workers from other provinces who face significant challenges related to living expenses, housing and savings. Caring for union members and workers during Tet has therefore been identified as a key task, with resources mobilised on a large scale.
The “Chuyen tau Cong doan - mua Xuan” (trade union-spring train) initiative was developed from the practical need to support local workers and has since expanded nationwide in cooperation with Vietnam Railways.
This year, with support from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, nearly 3,000 return train tickets and Tet gift packages were presented to selected union members and outstanding workers. Outbound journeys are scheduled from February 10-16, while return trips bringing workers back to Ho Chi Minh City will run from February 20 to March 1.
For many, the programme represents a long-awaited opportunity to return home after years away. It helps ease financial burdens and allows families to enjoy a fuller and warmer Tet reunion.
Nhan also expressed appreciation for the quiet but significant contributions made by workers from across the country who have chosen Ho Chi Minh City as their home and workplace, contributing to the city’s development. He encouraged them to follow safety regulations during travel, enjoy a joyful Tet holiday and return to work with renewed energy.
For nearly a decade, the family of Nguyen Thi Bich from the central province of Ha Tinh had been unable to return home for Tet due to financial difficulties. The modest factory wages earned by Bich and her husband were largely spent on rent, raising their two children and daily living expenses. Receiving round-trip train tickets for the four family members brought great joy, she said, as the travel costs would otherwise have been beyond their means.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labour, during this Lunar New Year, it plans to support around 350,000 union members and workers through various initiatives, including train, coach and air tickets, visits and gift-giving, as well as assistance for workers’ children facing serious illness, workplace accidents or natural disasters./.
VNA
