Two-day strike at Formosa ends with compromise

Nguyen Ngoc Thuong, permanent vice chairman of the Trade Union under the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Industrial Zones Management Authority, said that when the strike started on June 11, representatives of the union attended a working session with company leaders to study the reasons as well as negotiate the workers’ demands.

Thuong said that the company’s union has only been established two months ago and lacked the experience to effectively represent workers’ opinions, leading to the strike.

After the working session, the company’s management board agreed to pay compensation for extra hours as well as payment of other allowance. Besides, the company will improve the quality of the food served at its cafeteria.

However, the company’s management board refused to pay a 7% bonus to skilled or good workers, because workers receive a minimum wage of VND3.48 million (US$155.18), which is higher than the VND3.1 million (US$138.23) paid by other companies.

Thuong added that these regulations will come into effect within a month. There are approximately 200 workers who have gone on strike for more incentives. However, the company’s management board said that if the remaining workers do not agree with the above compromise, the company will recruit new workers.

Previously, on June 11, 1,000 workers started a strike to protest unreasonable working conditions.

According to workers, they work from 7.30am until 12am and have a one hour lunch break. They then resume work from 1pm to 4.30pm, officially. However, they were forced to work until 6pm without a light meal or rest. In addition, it is difficult to ask for a break or take leave for family emergencies.

The workers also complained about the quality of lunch provided, claiming VND10,000 (US$0.45) per meal is not nutritious enough.

Furthermore, the company’s management board broke its promise to pay a bonus to outstandingly skillful or good workers.