VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese workers in South Korean and Taiwanese invested enterprises complain that they have been maltreated by the foreign bosses.

Nearly 900 workers of Shilla Bags Vietnam, a 100 percent South Korean invested enterprise in district 12 in HCM City went on a strike some days ago to protest the company’s management policy.

On March 12, some female workers of the company asked for the permission to go to the toilet. However, they were refused by the “Toilet Queen” (the word used by the workers when talking about the officer taking care about the toilet issues), who said that 11 am was not the right time for this.

A new management mechanism has been applied over the last few months here at the company, under which workers can go to toilets at 9.30-10.30 am and 2-3 pm a day. The toilets have been closed at the other time and guarded by officers.

During the two “toilet hours,” workers need to ask for the “toilet cards” (there are 3 cards for every 80 workers), which show the names of workers and the allowed time for toilet.

L, a worker of the company, said those, who spend much time on the toilet, would be insulted, while those, who go to toilets many times a day would receive warning. And if someone receives two warnings, he would receive a “yellow card” and see his salary to be cut by VND50,000. Two yellow cards would be equal to one red card, while the red card means the dismissal.

“I tried to ask for a favor, because I have kidney disease. However, I was rejected,” L said. “The female workers who have their periods, could receive 2 sanitary pads a day.”

Nearly 300 workers of Young Woo Company Ltd, also a 100 percent South Korean enterprise in Hoc Mon district in HCM City, also halted their works because of the odd regulations.

“I am pregnant and I needed to go to toilets many times a day. However, I received warnings about this,” V, a worker complained.

Thuy Dung, who was a worker of Daiwa Plastics Vietnam in Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone in district 7, HCM City, said she was sacked because she did not wear the orange hat when going to toilet.

The problem was that there were no orange hats at that time when Dung wanted to go to the toilet. All the hats were taken by other workers (there were 4 hats for every 70-80 workers).

The odd regulations set by the enterprises have raised anger among workers. Many of the workers complained that they did not dare to drink much water, though they knew it was not good for the health, especially those with kidney diseases.

A pregnant worker complained that she tried not to drink much water before going to work or during the production shifts, even though the doctor told her to drink as much water as possible.

In fact, even though if they wanted to drink water, they had no water to drink. D, a worker at Shilla Bags Vietnam, said everyone received 0.5 liters of water every day, though it was very hot in HCM City.

Lao Dong