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| Working atmosphere at Son Ha Hue Co., Ltd on the morning of November 4 |
The days spent staying at the factory
In a morning at the beginning of November, the brightly lit factory of Hue Textile and Garment Joint Stock Company (Huegatex) buzzed with the hum of sewing machines and the cheerful chatter of workers, a warm, creating a lively rhythm after Hue City had just endured back-to-back floods. In the Scheduling Department, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Van was still busy at her work desk. With a calm, steady voice, she recalled how she and her colleagues had “eaten and slept at the factory” during those challenging days.
Ms. Van lives in Thanh Phuoc Hamlet, Hoa Chau Ward, one of the areas hit earliest and hardest by the flood. On the morning of October 27, when the roads were already submerged, she sent her children to stay with their grandparents and took a boat to the company in time for her shift. Since that day, she has been staying at the factory for over a week. “The company arranged proper accommodation and meals, so I decided to stay. It was safer than traveling back and forth in the flood, and it also helped keep work running smoothly,” she said. Even after many days, she still vividly remembers the uneasy feeling of sitting on a tiny boat drifting through the muddy water that morning. “Luckily, my parents’ house has a loft, so they and the kids were safe, that gave me the peace of mind", she added.
Similarly, Ms. Le Thi Kim Hanh, a worker at Garment Factory No. 3, shared: “My house in Thanh Thuy Ward, which was badly flooded; everything was damaged, and my parents and two younger siblings had to evacuate. When the company offered free accommodation those days, I felt much more at ease. Staying at the factory means having a safe place to rest and being able to keep working regularly, so I can set my mind at rest”, she said, her hands still moving swiftly along each stitch as she spoke.
Along with Ms. Van and Ms. Hanh, dozens of other workers were also provided with temporary accommodation right on the factory campus. Each person brought just a few sets of clothes and the company took care of everything else, from meals to daily living needs. “It wasn’t just a shelter from the flood; at that time, the factory felt like a shared home. Everyone became closer and understood one another better. In the middle of the storm and flood, we realized we weren’t alone", Ms. Van shared.
The company also provided each worker with 1 million VND in support to help them get through the hardship, a gesture that deeply moved everyone. “That amount wasn’t just financial aid; it was a heartfelt act of care and timely support. Feeling that someone was thinking of us and sharing our burden during such a difficult time truly warmed our hearts", Ms. Hanh shared.
Mr. Nguyen Tien Hau, Deputy General Director of Hue Textile and Garment Joint Stock Company, said: “During the late October floods, up to 70% of our workers had to temporarily stop working due to road closures and deep flooding. Even so, we managed to keep our main production lines running. We flexibly reorganized operations, relocating workers to unaffected workshops to maintain production schedules while also ensuring they still received their basic income”.
The company has a total of 4,377 employees, but during the peak of the flooding, only 2,510 were able to make it to work, reaching about 43% of the total workforce. Despite efforts to keep production running, the management emphasized that worker safety remained the top priority. On those days, the company reminded employees not to travel if weather or road conditions were unsafe. Free on-site accommodation and meals were also arranged for those whose homes were isolated by floodwaters, allowing them to stay and work with peace of mind while helping maintain stable operations. In addition, the company launched an emergency support package worth over 4.3 billion VND for all employees. “Each worker received 1 million VND, and those facing especially difficult circumstances, such as single moms, low-income households, or severe property loss, were considered for additional support", Mr. Hau shared.
As of now, around 680 employees still haven’t been able to return to work because their homes remain flooded or severely damaged. The company’s trade union has been visiting them directly to offer support and encouragement. Mr. Hau affirmed: “When our workers feel secure, the business stands strong. The solidarity and compassion shown during these difficult days are the strongest bonds that hold Huegatex together”.
Compassion amid the floods
At Son Ha Hue Co., Ltd., on the morning of November 4, over 86% of workers returned to work after days of disruption. Along the sewing lines, cheerful conversations mixed with the hum of focused activity. “During 3 days of flooding, the factory could only operate at 50% capacity. Once the water receded, everyone was eager to get back to work, to catch up with production schedules and earn extra income", said Ms. Lai Thi Tay Phuong, Chairwoman of the Company’s Trade Union.
The company’s management and trade union agreed to provide 500,000 VND in support for each worker, with an additional 100,000 VND for those who came to work during the three days of flooding. These timely policies helped reassure employees and encouraged them to return to production with peace of mind.
On a larger scale, B’Lao - Scavi Group quickly rolled out support packages for nearly 5,700 worker households at its Scavi Hue, Scavi Quang Dien, and B’Lao Sport factories. Each household with floodwaters rising above 0.5 meters received 500,000 VND in assistance. At the same time, the group advanced 70% of October salaries to all employees, helping them cover daily expenses and repair their homes.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Linh, Chief Operating Officer of the B’Lao - Scavi Group, emphasized: “We will conduct on-site assessments to provide special support for severely affected cases, with a budget of over 1 billion VND. In the long term, the Group is also exploring housing solutions for workers in higher, flood-free areas”.
At Phu Nam Yarn Joint Stock Company, where hundreds of workers are employed at Phu Bai Industrial Zone, the management decided to provide 500,000 VND in support for each employee, along with a 200,000 VND bonus for those who worked overtime and stayed committed during the difficult period. Ms. Le Thi Luong, Director of Phu Nam Yarn Joint Stock Company, shared: “In the midst of the floods, the most valuable thing was our shared spirit of perseverance. This support isn’t just expressed in funding, it’s our way of showing gratitude to those who stood together through hardship".
After the storms and floods passed, the atmosphere in Hue’s factories gradually returned to normal. Yet in the eyes of the workers, those eyes still shone a quiet sense of gratitude and trust. The acts of solidarity during those difficult days reflected not only social responsibility but also the unique culture of Hue’s enterprises, where every worker is regarded as a member of one shared family. The close cooperation between trade unions, the proactive leadership of business executives, and the collective spirit of mutual support have become vital forces helping companies swiftly restore production, stabilize orders, and maintain the textile and garment supply chain in Hue after the disaster.