Solutions to attract and "retain" miners
After more than 25 years of open-pit mining, Nui Beo Coal Joint Stock Company is the only unit in TKV to switch to underground mining. This is a major event, requiring a highly skilled workforce and modern technology to meet production requirements, an important technological turning point. However, this transition also poses a significant challenge in recruiting and retaining miners.
In the context that mining is no longer an attractive option for many young men, building a team of miners with sufficient quantity and strong quality is not only a human resource problem, but also a long-term strategic problem for Nui Beo Coal. Realizing this, the company's Party Committee has identified attracting miners as a particularly important task.
One of the highlights is that Than Nui Beo pioneered the implementation of the "3-industry" policy (mechanization, automation, computerization in underground mining) to improve working conditions for workers. The company focuses on investing in infrastructure to serve the miners' lives with a series of modern and practical works such as: spacious buffet, fully equipped bus shelter, multi-purpose sports field, parallel train system to transport workers to and from the mine... These works not only contribute to improving the quality of life of workers, but also demonstrate deep concern, creating a sense of attachment for the miners of the unit.
In particular, to address the housing needs of workers, the company is preparing to start a collective apartment project dedicated to miners with a total investment of 300 billion VND. The project is built near the mine, creating maximum convenience for workers' travel and living, and is expected to accommodate about 500 people. While waiting for the project to be completed, the company has implemented a policy of supporting rent of 400,000-600,000 VND/person/month, helping workers feel secure in their jobs and mines.
Not only investing in material conditions, Than Nui Beo also focuses on ideological work, stabilizing the spirit of young miners. The company's Party Committee regularly organizes to grasp the thoughts and feelings of new workers, organizes exchange and propaganda activities, helping young workers directly witness the results of labor and the maturity of their predecessors. From there, it fosters more confidence and motivation for them to persevere and stick with the mining profession.
In reality, when working conditions are improved, income is stable, and life is taken care of, miners often stay with the unit for a long time. Miner Hoang Cong Duong, with 16 years of experience, including 8 years working at Than Nui Beo, currently has an average income of more than 35 million VND/month, said: Mining is a particularly difficult job, but thanks to the company's attention to improving working conditions and stable salaries, we miners feel secure in staying. With a stable income and support, we have to stay committed and work more responsibly to take care of our families and develop together with the unit.
According to statistics, at Nui Beo Coal Joint Stock Company, the number of miners quitting their jobs is mainly among the new entrants, while the rate of those with seniority and stable income is very low. Many miners at Nui Beo Coal currently earn 30-45 million VND/month, and many earn over 50 million VND/month. This shows that the miner profession still has its own appeal if it is well organized and properly cared for. The policy of promoting mechanization, improving working conditions, and raising income at Nui Beo Coal is creating an attraction to retain miners.
In the context of increasingly difficult work for miners, requiring high physical strength and working in harsh conditions, Khe Cham Coal Company has implemented many practical policies to attract workers, especially miners. Currently, the company has more than 3,200 employees, of which over 1,500 are miners. Policies from salary and bonus, living conditions, to transportation have contributed to building trust, helping workers feel secure in their long-term commitment to the mining profession.
A highlight in Khe Cham Coal Company’s employee care policy is the organization of shuttle buses for workers. Every day, there are about 57 shuttle buses transporting nearly 1,820 people from their homes to their workplaces and vice versa. In particular, the company arranges 12 sleeper buses to serve workers in mountainous communes such as Binh Lieu, Ba Che, Dam Ha, etc., helping workers rest comfortably and ensure their health before and after work.
Mr. Luong Minh Lam, a worker at the 3rd Tunnel Construction Site, Khe Cham Coal Company, shared: For the past 15 years, I have been going to work by company car, and for the past 4 years, I have been able to travel by sleeper bus which is very comfortable. Every day, it takes nearly 4 hours to go back and forth, and without a car, I cannot ensure my health to work. The shuttle bus policy not only supports current workers, but also contributes to attracting workers from remote areas to Khe Cham.
Along with transportation, salary policy is also a key factor in motivating work. In the first 6 months of 2025, the average salary at Khe Cham Coal Company reached more than 23.5 million VND/person/month. The company regularly reviews and adjusts unit prices and salary levels in accordance with actual production, ensuring legitimate rights for employees.
In addition, the company also pays special attention to improving working conditions in the furnace with a system of transporting people and materials, dust suppression equipment, and a regular health check-up and occupational disease examination regime. The dormitory for workers is built spaciously and fully equipped with 5-storey buildings with elevators, air conditioning, wifi, filtered water, etc. The "meal at the beginning of the shift" regime changes to "meal at the end of the shift" as suggested by workers to ensure enough energy at the end of the shift. On holidays and Tet, the company organizes free shuttle buses to take workers home, creating a connection between workers and the unit.
Not only taking care of the material life, the company also cares about the spirit of the workers. During the Workers' Month 2025, Khe Cham Coal organized many meaningful activities, such as: Visiting workers with serious illnesses, supporting disadvantaged units, organizing union meals for more than 3,000 people, launching sports movements, praising workers with high incomes and good achievements... Humanitarian activities such as meeting children of disabled employees, supporting families in difficulty were also maintained, spreading the spirit of solidarity and sharing within the company.
Since the beginning of the year, Khe Cham Coal Company has recruited 129 new employees, including 83 miners. The recruitment process has been strictly implemented, from health check-ups, skill tests to discipline and skill assessments, meeting current job requirements. The synchronous, humane and appropriate policies have helped Khe Cham Coal create a stable, cohesive working environment, gradually building the image of a responsible enterprise, building trust and becoming a place where miners can feel secure to stay for a long time.
To make employees feel secure and committed
Over the years, TKV has affirmed its pioneering role in caring for, improving working conditions and enhancing the lives of workers. This is not only a responsibility but also a guideline in the Group's sustainable development strategy, with the goal of creating a safe, civilized and humane working environment, contributing to attracting and retaining the workforce.
TKV always attaches importance to implementing democracy at the grassroots level in enterprises. Through regular dialogues, thousands of workers have had the opportunity to express their thoughts, aspirations and contribute opinions on the regimes, policies and regulations of the unit. From 2020 to present, TKV Trade Union has organized 552 conferences of workers at all levels, gained the trust of more than 20,000 managers and revised and supplemented 445 collective labor agreements. In particular, the current collective agreement at the Group level has 12 points that are more beneficial to workers.
These efforts have contributed significantly to building a harmonious, progressive working environment and stabilizing the psychology of workers in the face of fluctuations in the labor market and the pressure of digital transformation and energy conversion. Not only organizing dialogues, TKV has also pioneered in taking care of the welfare and spiritual life of workers with programs such as "Miners' Tet", tens of thousands of gifts, travel support and thousands of billions of VND spent on holidays and Tet, contributing to fostering attachment and pride in the profession.
TKV Trade Union also coordinated to organize tours and vacations for nearly 320,000 workers; effectively implemented the "Miners' Welfare" program and provided health care through nursing and rehabilitation. Hundreds of houses were built or repaired from the "Union Shelter" and "Housing for Workers with Policies" programs, making the dream of settling down for many workers come true. In addition, activities such as supporting female workers in difficult circumstances, praising workers' children with good academic performance, honoring exemplary miner families, etc. have contributed to creating a solid support network, aiming at the goal of comprehensive human development.
Mr. Le Thanh Xuan, Chairman of the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Trade Union, said: Along with welfare policies, patriotic and production emulation movements are also organized systematically and widely. The movements "Good workers, creative workers", "Creative miners", "Enterprises for workers" have become the driving force to help workers promote initiatives, improve techniques, increase efficiency and income. These movements not only bring practical effects on production and business but also strengthen the typical corporate culture of TKV. In particular, emulation movements are associated with the process of digital transformation, mechanization, automation and technology application, thereby replicating many typical examples, creating motivation and spreading the spirit of emulation throughout the Group. TKV Trade Union innovates propaganda, applies technology to listen, grasp ideas, promptly support workers, especially during epidemics and natural disasters, contributing to strengthening trust and maintaining psychological stability.
In order to retain miners, TKV also focuses on investing in building infrastructure to serve workers' lives. Currently, 14 underground mining units in TKV have invested in building 25 collective housing and apartment buildings for workers, meeting the housing needs of more than 6,800 people. In the coming time, the Coal industry will continue to start building workers' housing at Khe Cham, Thong Nhat, Ha Lam, Hon Gai mines... to improve living conditions, contributing to attracting and stabilizing the workforce.
In the period of 2020-2025, the total revenue of the Group will reach 820,630 billion VND; total profit before tax will be 34,008 billion VND; and the State budget contribution will be 120,326 billion VND. Labor productivity and average growth rate will reach 7.8%/year. The average salary of employees in 2020 will be 13.83 million VND/person/month, increasing to 18.56 million VND/person/month by 2024.
However, TKV also frankly acknowledged that there are still challenges such as pressure on labor competition, career transition due to the energy transition trend, and the fear of young workers in the mining industry. Faced with this reality, the TKV Trade Union has set out many key solutions in the coming time, such as improving the quality of collective labor agreements, improving housing and living conditions, continuing to innovate emulation movements and training to improve skills and awareness for workers. The goal is not only to ensure rights but also to build the image of pioneering, brave and creative miners in the new era.
Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/tkv-tao-diem-tua-giup-nguoi-lao-dong-gan-bo-lau-dai-3369156.html
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