Nearly two thousand workers at a South Korean company in the southern province of Dong Nai have gone on strike to ask for salaries while the company's leaders had left the country. 

Thousands of workers gather at the headquarters of KL Texwell Vina Co.Ltd at Bau Xeo Industrial Zone in Trang Bom District to ask for salaries on February 9.

The workers said that they have gathered at the KL Texwell Vina Co.Ltd's headquarters at Bau Xeo Industrial Zone in Trang Bom District since the evening of February 8.

“The company's leaders said that they would pay salaries for January before the Tet holiday but we haven't received anything yet while we heard that the management had all left for South Korea," a worker, Nguyen Thi Minh said.

Minh said that she and many workers here come from other provinces and have to pay for house rent and bus tickets before returning home for Tet.

"Many of us are really facing financial difficulties," she said. "We rely on the salary of VND5 million (USD220) a month which can only cover basic everyday expenses. If they don't pay us salaries for January, how can we buy food and pay rent, let alone the preparations for Tet. I only have VND200,000 (USD8.81) in my pocket"

Another worker, Nguyen Thị Thu, who comes the northern province of Thai Binh said that she had bought a bus ticket to return home for Tet holiday already but if she doesn't get the salary, she will have to stay for Tet.

"We have to stay to guard at the company to prevent them from moving the company's assets away, as that means we’ll lose everything," Thu said. 

A representative from the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs told the media on February 9 that they are working with the workers, local police and agencies to investigate the case. 

According to the department, KL Texwell Vina Co.Ltd still owes nearly 13.7 billion (USD616.000) in salaries for January 2018 to 1,928 workers. They also owe over VND 17.5 billion (USD750,000) in insurance payments to the provincial Social Insurance Department. The company's general director and some other members of the management board who are from South Korea have all left the country.

The Dong Nai Provincial Labour Federation confirmed that Texwell Vina's general director, Chang Jeen, and 11 other South Korean managers at the company had left Vietnam on February 8.

South Korean-invested KL Texwell Vina registered for investment licence in garment and textiles in December 2015 and employs more than 1,900 workers.

Dtinews/Lao Dong