THANH HOÁ — Garment workers of S&H Vina company decided to end their strike and return to work on Monday after the company’s leaders pledged to provide benefits and lift “nonsense” regulations.

Some 6,000 garment workers of S&H Vina company in Thành Tâm Ward, Thạch Thành District of Thanh Hóa Province, went on strike last week claiming they were subject to inhumane conditions at the company.

The strike began on Wednesday after a factory manager told the workers not to sleep on sheets used to cover stock during their breaks. 

Some workers complained the company offered only one-day monthly leave in case of accidents, sickness or the death of a relative, and three days notice had to be given to be counted as a reasonable absence.

Hà Long Biên, the district’s trade union president, told online newspaper Zing.vn that the company committed to provide full pay to the workers for the four-day strike.

Meanwhile, Ngô Tôn Tẫn, Trade Union president of Thanh Hóa Province, said the trade union had collected the demands and recommendations of the workers, including a basic salary increase, no deduction of wages in case of sickness, accidents or other unexpected events and a better maternity policy.

Sickness leave or a day off in case of an unexpected important family event must be counted as annually-paid leave, workers said.

The company agreed to lift the regulations on taking days off due to sickness or death of a family member, a representative of the workers said.

Days taken off for sickness or attending funeral services of a relative would not be deducted from the wages, he added.

According to Tẫn, the company has accepted 10 out of 16 demands of the workers and promised to fulfill them.

Some other demands could not be met because they depend on the company’s business results. However, the provincial trade union would continue to monitor the company’s implementation of workers’ demands. — VNS