ĐẮK NÔNG — Recently, some persons from other localities came to Quảng Phú Commune, K’Rông Nô District, in the Central Highlands (Tây Nguyên) province of Đắk Nông to recruit Mông ethnic minority children to work illegally at HCM City.

Many children, mainly girls, from 11 to 16 years old, have been sent to HCM City to work in harsh environment.

Ngô Xuân Đông, chairman of KRông Nô District People’s Committee confirmed to Việt Nam News that “the district authorities have acknowledged the incident and promptly asked the district police to coordinate with the local authorities, to bring some of the children home, and will continue investigating the incident.”

A 11-year-old girl of Sồng A Gàng, (living at Phú Vinh Village, Quảng Phú Commune) was one of the victims who have recently returned home after coming to HCM City for work.

Gàng remembered that in early March, he was persuaded by his son-in-law living in Đắk Lắk Province, to agree that sending the daughter, Sồng Thị Nênh to work in HCM City with a promised salary of VNĐ18 million a year.

“There is a car coming to my house to pick up my girl along with some others in the village to work in the city. However, in the workplace, they aren’t enough health and age to do work, they ask for returning home. The boss sent them home." Gàng told vov.vn.

Sadly, parents who were under difficult economic conditions and limited legal awareness still accepted their underage children to work far away home.

Similarly, Phàng A Hồng (also at Phú Vinh Village) has two daughters (16 and 14 year old), who are working in a garment factory in HCM City. He said that they just telephoned saying life was very difficult.

“I hear they (strangers who firstly coming to the village) say that my girls are paid VNĐ18 million a year so I let them go to work,” he said.

“The children can’t stand, can’t do, and want to return. At that time, the owner doesn’t let them out. Because they are too young, so now I want to ask local authorities to take the children home.”

Phàng A Chư, official of Phú Vinh Village confirmed the case, saying at least he saw three times, cars from Đắk Lắk Province came to the village to pick up people.

Châu Ru Ni, police chief of Quảng Phú Commune, said immediately after hearing the incident, local authorities and police have actively cooperated with K’Rông Nô District police to clarify the incident, and raise awareness among people, to avoid similar cases.

He said from early March, there were some strangers traveling to Quảng Phú Commune to pick up 11 girls to work in HCM City.

“These strangers take advantage of the lack of legal knowledge of local people. They also draft simple labour contracts aiming at creating confidence with residents,” he said.  

"These people recruit underage workers illegally." — VNS