Poor workers in Hanoi’s industrial parks and export processing zones were provided with free travel home as the Year of the Dragon comes to an end.

The scheme, co-organised by the municipal Labour Union and several Hanoi–based Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) enterprises, aims to ease the workers’ difficulties and help them avoid the city’s crowded bus stations.

According to Deputy Chairman of the municipal Labour Federation Phung Van Hy, the scheme has helped workers from Minh Khai, Bac (Northern) Thang Long, Quang Minh, and Noi Bai industrial zones return to their hometowns for Tet, the most important festival for Vietnamese.

The Labour Federation worked with the businesses to register workers for free travel before December 15, 2012.

On February 7 more than 2,000 workers boarded 61 buses to Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces.

Ngo Ngoc Thuy, an official from the federation said that the annual event has been running for the last five years, and helps increase the support employers provide to their workers.

In addition to the ‘13 th -month’ bonus and Tet gifts, complimentary travel serves as an encouragement to the workers.

Bui Thi Bich, a worker in the Bac Thang Long industrial zone, said she was very happy to receive the free bus ticket from her company, even though most companies had their own difficulties.

The scheme is a meaningful social activity, encouraging workers to further contribute to the city’s development.-VNA