Workers proactively enhance productivity in new era

Laborers take initiative in upskilling

Phung Thi Hanh, a worker from the Hanoi Shirt Factory under Garment Corporation 10, is a typical example of a continuous learning spirit. She shared, “I accumulate experience and upgrade skills from my colleagues, keep practicing every day. After five months, the number of products I could sew raised from 200-300 to 700-800, and reached 1,400 products per day after one year. I became the leading worker in my section.

Hanh continued learning to work in other stages in the production line to assume tasks in any position. Thanks to her constant efforts, she is now among the most productive workers in the factory, earning a monthly income of VND15 million.

Workers at Honda Vietnam constantly drive innovations and adopt new technologies in production

“I always share experience with my coworkers so that we can grow together,” she said. “I believe that if every worker has the desire to learn, not only productivity, but our quality of life will also improve.”

Creating safe, equal working environment

Phan Tuan Anh, Chairman of the Trade Union at Honda Vietnam (under the Trade Union of the Vietnamese Industry and Trade Sector) underlined the importance of ensuring workplace safety and creating an equal working environment.

Accordingly, by adopting the policy “No safety, no production,” Honda Vietnam has implemented a safety management system based on ISO 45001 standards. Once employee’s health is secured, they will stay more focused on their work, which in turn boosts productivity.

A democratic, equal working environment is also vital for fostering creativity. Workers at Honda are encouraged to propose ideas and improvements in the working process to enhance production efficiency.

Currently, the average monthly income for Honda Vietnam workers is over VND16.5 million, reflecting the results from the combination of safety, democracy at work, and corporate culture development.

At Garment Corporation 10

In the heavy industry sector, innovation and technical improvement are key drivers of productivity. Truong Thi Thu Ha, from Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company (BSR), said that since the early days of constructing the Dung Quat Refinery, creativity movement has been strongly encouraged.

As a result, BSR contributed 1,417 initiatives out of the “One Million Initiatives” program launched by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, generating over VND700 billion in the first year of the campaign. Thanks to their initiatives, many workers have risen to become technical staff and managers at their units. However, sustaining innovation requires appropriate support mechanisms. Ha proposed that the Ministry of Science and Technology needs specific guidance on compensation for authors of innovations. “This would be a recognition, which would create a strong motivation for workers to keep innovating and contributing to both their companies and the nation,” she added.

From Phung Thi Hanh’s story in the garment industry to process improvements at Honda and the spirit of innovation at BSR, it’s clear that improving labor productivity not only is a business concern, but also requires responsibility from related parties. When each individual has a learning mindset, their enterprises provide a good working environment, and support policies are implemented appropriately, then Vietnam’s labor productivity will make remarkable strides, contributing to the country’s sustainable development.