The Great Bonus Divide: A Tale of Two Companies.

As of now, many businesses in areas with high concentrations of workers, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai, have initiated Tet care packages, finalized Tet holiday schedules, and formulated plans for Tet bonuses to reassure their employees.

Pledging the Best Bonus

At Vinh Phong Shoes Limited Company (Xuan Thoi Dong Industrial Park, Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City), Ms. Phan Thi Minh Thu, the company’s director, shared that compared to 2023, the production situation in 2024 has been more favorable, especially in the last few months, with stable orders, and workers having enough work and overtime opportunities. The company has also prepared Tet bonuses for its employees.

Mr. Pham Quang Anh, Director of Dony Garment Limited Company (Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City), said that although the company has not yet finalized the Tet bonus, the minimum bonus will be one month’s salary. He added that the company’s revenue in 2024 has increased compared to the previous year, and the order situation is also favorable. “In December, the company will announce the specific bonus amount and strive to offer the best bonus so that employees can enjoy a warm and fulfilling Tet holiday after a year of hard work,” said Mr. Quang Anh.

In Dong Nai province, a quick survey of some local businesses revealed that they have orders for the last few months of the year and are trying to ensure that the Tet bonus is the same or higher than the previous year, depending on the production situation.

Specifically, Dong Phu Cuong Joint Stock Company (Dinh Quan district, Dong Nai province) has experienced a prosperous production and business situation in 2024, so the company has announced the Tet bonus early. The average bonus amount is over 12 million VND per person, an increase of 4 million VND compared to 2024. These Tet bonuses will be transferred to employees before January 22, 2025.

In addition, the company introduced a policy of rewarding employees who arrive on time for work on the first day of the new year after Tet with 300,000 VND each. This good news excited the company’s 2,300 employees. Female worker Nguyen Thanh Ngoc shared, “When the company announced the high Tet bonus, I and many of my colleagues were very happy. After a year of hard work, everyone looks forward to this bonus.”

Similarly, the Trade Union of Chang Shin Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Vinh Cuu district, Dong Nai province) informed that during the Tet holiday, the company will apply a Tet bonus for more than 40,000 workers as committed in the collective labor agreement. Specifically, employees who have worked for a full year will receive a Tet bonus of 100% of their salary, equivalent to one month’s salary. After that, employees will get an additional 5% for each additional year of service, with the highest bonus being 200%, equivalent to two months’ salary.

Identifying Struggling Businesses for Supervision and Support

At Sambu Vina Sports Limited Company (Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City), there has been a shortage of orders for the past three years, and workers have only been working eight hours a day without overtime. However, the company has ensured that employees’ salaries, bonuses, and other policies and benefits are well-maintained.

Regarding the Tet bonus, Ms. Tran Thi Gai, Head of the company’s Human Resources Department, shared that the Trade Union and the company have negotiated and included in the collective labor agreement a bonus of two months’ basic salary per year. This bonus will be distributed in several installments on holidays (April 30, May 1, and September 2) totaling one month’s salary, and the remaining month’s salary will be paid during the Tet holiday. Therefore, although the company has not announced the bonus for this year, it is expected to remain unchanged.

In Binh Duong province, some businesses have also projected their Tet bonuses. Mr. Tran Van Hoat, Chairman of the Trade Union of Astro Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Thu Dau Mot City), said that the company has faced challenges this year, with only about 30% of orders being fulfilled, and workers having to take turns on leave. Regarding the Tet bonus, he shared that due to these difficulties, the company plans to offer a bonus of only about 70% of the 13th-month salary, but the Trade Union is negotiating with the board of directors to provide a full 100% bonus for workers who have worked the entire year.

To ensure that all employees can enjoy the Tet holiday, since the end of August, the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation has issued a plan for Tet care packages for the upcoming Tet holiday. The plan emphasizes the importance of labor unions and businesses working together to establish salary and bonus payment plans for the Tet holiday and announcing them early to reassure their employees. So far, the higher-level labor unions have implemented this plan at the grassroots level and requested units to report their bonus amounts and Tet care activities.

Ms. Doan Ngoc Diem Lan, Vice Chairman of the District 8 Labor Federation, shared that although no business has reported in writing, a quick survey of some units revealed that the bonus amounts are not lower than last year. The District Labor Federation has also identified some struggling businesses to supervise and provide timely support.