Leaders of the HCM City Labour Federation announce programmes to care for union members and workers during the upcoming Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday. — VNS Photo Thu Hằng

HCM CITY — The HCM City Labour Federation will earmark nearly VNĐ140 billion (US$564 million) to present gifts, organise various celebrations and care for union members and workers during the upcoming Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

The federation will organise at least 10 programmes to ensure their union members and workers enjoy a happy Tết holiday, the country’s largest traditional festival that falls in late January next year.

The programme entitled “Tết sum vầy - Xuân tri ân” (Tết reunion - Spring gratitude) will present gifts worth VNĐ1 million each to 10,000 migrant families who cannot manage to return home during Tết holiday due to difficult financial conditions.

Another programme entitled “Gia đình công nhân vui Tết cùng Thành phố” (Workers’ families enjoy Tết in the city) will offer tickets for 5,000 families to be entertained and have food at Đầm Sen Cultural Park during Tết.

Around 500 families will receive train tickets to return home for Tết holiday under the programme “Chuyến tàu mùa xuân” (Spring train).

Thousands of bus and air tickets will be delivered to disadvantaged union members and workers.

The federation will present gifts worth VNĐ700,000 each for 3,000 union members in difficult financial conditions.

Nearly 170 children whose fathers or mothers died of COVID-19 and 120 disadvantaged children with good school performances will also receive Tết gifts.

Phạm Chí Tâm, deputy chairman of the HCM City Labour Federation, said some businesses in leather, footwear and wood production had to halt production over the past month due to a lack of orders, causing their workers to lose their jobs before Tết.

Trade unions at all levels will focus on efforts to provide timely support to affected workers and help them find new jobs, Tâm said.

Trade unions will spare no effort to help union members and workers enjoy the Tết holiday, he said.

To date, around 2,600 workers in the city have lost their jobs as businesses suspend production, according to the federation. — VNS