This year, both SEV and SEVT made Vietnam’s “Enterprises for Laborers (Doanh nghiệp vì người lao động) 2017” list, which honored 74 companies across Vietnam that strived to achieve sustainable development by providing a positive work environment for their employees. Both entities were also among the top 30 companies that were awarded the Certificate of Merit by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL) for their outstanding achievement.

The “Enterprises for Laborers” rating is based on a specific set of criteria developed by labor and trade experts. The criteria ensure a close reflection of the actual use and treatment of employees in the company in a wide range of standards from vocational training to mental well-being. Special priority is given to enterprises that have better welfare for employees and implementation of laws in place. The listed companies are also consulted on various aspects with the Vietnamese Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA).

The Certificate of Merit is awarded to companies that achieved outstanding results in taking care of the well-being of their employees, in addition to protecting their legitimate rights and interests. The awardees, including SEV and SEVT, were recognized as companies that exemplify their belief that humans are the core value and the driving force for the development of enterprises.

Recognized for Professional and Healthy Environment for Employees

In the awards ceremony held in Hanoi on November 29, 2017, the representatives of SEV and SEVT were given the Certificate of Merit and its trophy by Madam Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, Vice President of Vietnam and Mr. Tran Thanh Man, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Samsung in Vietnam provides a professional and healthy environment for its employees that ensures their well-being. Among the various benefits SEV provides for employees, the company was in particular recognized for its maternity support, including special treatment for pregnant employees. The company also provides modern housing and amenities, which includes a dormitory that comes with cinema, welfare rooms, a supermarket, a hair salon, a yoga room and a gym.

SEVT, a company with more than 68,000 employees, also has systems in place to make their employees’ lives easier, such as 550 high-quality vehicles that pick-up employees daily from the neighboring provinces. Like SEV, employees are provided with an excellent living experience with a dormitory of 26 buildings which accommodates more than 22,000 employees and is equipped with quality amenities.

Samsung, as it continues its operations in Vietnam, will remain committed to ensuring the well-being of its employees there, as well as identifying new avenues for their growth and training, and job satisfaction.

In Vietnam, the “Enterprises for Laborers” ranking is announced every year under the goal of creating a broader movement of encouraging businesses to care more about human resources, development of enterprises and communities. Organized by Lao Dong Newspaper since 2014, the list is initiated by VGCL in cooperation with MOLISA and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

On November 21, Báo Lao Động also interviewed several female employees at Samsung Electronics Vietnam for story looking into the positive working conditions and employee satisfaction at the company. For its part, Báo Lao Động is a representative general daily newspaper published by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, and one of the most influential and oldest newspapers in Vietnam.

The following is a full translation of the article:

Samsung Electronics Vietnam Works Hard for Employee Welfare with Employee Work Council

When female employees of Samsung Electronics Vietnam become pregnant, they can immediately apply for pregnancy and nursing support. Samsung re-assigns work and provides special chairs designed for pregnant women during their work and meal hours. The employees are also allowed to take leave or visit company clinics as they require. This is a welfare policy that the local Employee Work Council has established in consultation with the company.

Female Employees Receive Special Benefits

Lê Thị Xiêm (a worker at the main production line, from Yên Phong, Bắc Ninh Province, age 28) applied for the local branch of Samsung Electronics after graduation.

Xiêm, who joined Samsung in August 2009 on a two-year contract, was also offered vocational training for one month before working in the factory. In August 2011, Xiêm signed a three-year extension, and from August 2014 has been on long-term contract with the company.

Initially, Xiêm was planning to return to school after working at Samsung for a short time, but has decided to stay with the company given the satisfactory income and professional and healthy work environment.

“Since working at Samsung for the past three years, I’ve gotten married and now have two children. During both my pregnancies, the company provided a good environment for me. I was able to choose a job role suited for my health condition at the time and provided access to special meals for pregnant mothers,” explains Xiêm. “I was able to go on maternity leave for two months prior to giving birth, and 70% of my salary was provided while I was on leave. The working environment was safe, and the company and work council treated me well, as if I were the baby.”

The various nursing rooms (there are thirteen nursing rooms in Samsung Electronics Vietnam) within the company has helped various female employees, including Lê Thị Hoa Hậu (external case production line worker; 28), nurse their children.

“When we have to nurse a baby, we use the breast pump to collect breast milk. The quality is of international standard (with electric pump and milk storage) so I feel safe in nursing my child,” said Hậu.

“Before I started working, I researched Samsung’s welfare system and salary and actually heard some bad rumors. However, when I joined Samsung as an employee, the bad rumors did not turn out to be true. For example, some rumors said Samsung’s work environment is harmful, that there is forced overtime, and problems with personal hygiene that negatively impact the health of employees, particularly causing pregnant employees to lose their babies.”

“But the truth was different. The work environment is clean, and every year the workers receive hygiene and safety education. The salary and bonuses are sufficient, and the workers receive a lot of welfare benefits. This I can prove by my two children, who are smart and healthy. My husband and I, by working for the company save more than 10 million dong every month.”

It’s Like Living at a Hotel

This is the story of Hoàng Thị Thu (a worker at the main line, from Nghi Lộc, Nghệ An, age 19).

The company provided Thu accommodations in the Samsung dormitory as Thu is new and her hometown is far away in a rural part of Vietnam.

“Back home, I actually had never experienced a washing machine, or air conditioner. Nor have I watched movies in a cinema or used the gym or had access to the internet. After working for Samsung and living in the company dormitory, I have not only used washing machines and the internet, but so much more. I hope to continue working for Samsung for a longtime,” said Thu. “Living in the dormitory is like living in a hotel with 50 thousand dong. I have a two-year contract, but I hope to contribute to the company and extend my contract time.”

“When entering the company, 100% of our employees receive a two-year contract, as well as full benefits including social security, health, and unemployment insurance. In addition, employees are entitled to a higher salary level than the state regulations on minimum wage, as well as other incentives like free meals during their work shifts. We also organize regular employee outings and activities,” said Lại Hoàng Dũng, Chairman of the Employee Work Council at Samsung Electronics Vietnam.

Nguyen Thi Van Ha, Chairman of the Labor Confederation of Bacoye Ninh Province, said, “The council cooperates very well with the leaders of Samsung Vietnam through regular dialogue which provides close insight into the sentiment and aspirations of employees. The cooperation also seeks to promptly resolve, and address matters brought up by employees which has contributed to creating harmonious labor relations.”

He added, “Samsung is the only company that utilizes 300 shuttle buses for employees to commute. Samsung also opens negotiations twice a year, and the average salary standard is higher than for Vietnam. Samsung employees work with comfort in a safe environment with stable income. The Employee Work Council has greatly contributed to this.”

In operation since April 2009, Samsung Electronics Vietnam has more than 100,000 employees working across its manufacturing facilities in the Yen Phong Industrial Zone in Bac Ninh Province (SEV) and Pho Yen District in Thai Nguyen Province (SEVT). Among the employees, female workers account for nearly 75% of the total workforce.

Source: Samsung điện tử Việt Nam: Đồng hành với công đoàn chăm lo cho CNLĐ

On November 7, Samsung Vietnam hosted the first “Samsung Vietnam Workplace Environment & Safety Innovation Conference” at Samsung Electronics Vietnam Thai Nguyen. Under the theme “Workplace Environment and Safety as the No. 1 Principle in Business,” the two-day meeting aimed to raise awareness as well as dialogue around the latest initiatives in working environment and safety innovation at Samsung worksites.

Wide Partnerships Backed by Deep Commitment

More than 700 attendees participated in the conference, including representatives from Samsung Electronics’ manufacturing subsidiaries and its affiliated companies and suppliers, as well as officials from relevant government agencies in Vietnam, to share their experiences on innovating workplace environment and safety management practices.

From the Vietnam government, Deputy Minister Doãn Mậu Diệp of the Ministry of Labor, Disabled and Social Affairs, Deputy Minister Võ Tuấn Nhân of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and Nguyễn Tử Quỳnh, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Bac Ninh, were in attendance and congratulated Samsung’s ongoing efforts to promote employee health and safety.

From Samsung, Won Hwan Shim, President of Samsung Vietnam, the subsidiary heads of Samsung affiliate factories in Vietnam, as well as leaders of Samsung manufacturing facilities from around the world including Korea, Brazil, India, and China also participated.

“The scale of Samsung’s operation in Vietnam is growing rapidly as well as its significance to Samsung’s business,” said Won Hwan Shim, President of Samsung Vietnam who oversees all of Samsung’s manufacturing facilities in Vietnam. “Samsung Electronics and its affiliates provide jobs for 160,000 people in Vietnam and our export turnover is expected to exceed USD 50 billion this year. By sharing global experience and know-how into workplace environment and safety management with all Samsung subsidiaries and local partners in Vietnam, Samsung Electronics is committed to establishing a safer and healthier workplace.”

Long-term Commitment in Vietnam

Samsung’s factories in Vietnam are committed to workplace environment and safety, and energy saving as the main principle in production and business operation. Furthermore, Samsung continues to seek innovative ways to protect the workplace environment and promote the safety and welfare of its staff.

For example, Samsung has established the Samsung Health Center at its manufacturing complex in Thai Nguyen, to provide state-of-the-art medical equipment and medical services such as obstetric care, otolaryngology and physiotherapy to employees. The center is staffed with 11 doctors and 45 nurses, ready on-site. In addition, Samsung also recently opened respective Motor Safety Experience Centers at its complexes in Bac Ninh (SEV) and Thai Nguyen (SEVT) to provide defensive driving training for employees by simulating traffic incidents to help reduce and prevent traffic accidents.

On March 27, Samsung Vietnam introduced the 2017 edition of its Samsung Talent Program (STP), which aims to nurture local information technology (IT) and electronics-telecommunications (ET) talent through scholarships, specialized courses and research and career opportunities. This year, STP will expand to nine universities and include resources worth VND 8.5 billion in total value, making this the program’s largest undertaking yet.

Since launching in 2012, STP has awarded 360 scholarships worth VND 10 billion in total value; sponsored Samsung Labs at multiple universities; provided Java, Android, Tizen, Algorithm Application and Korean courses for over 3,400 students; and invested more than VND 5 billion in various research projects.

This year, STP will award 120 scholarships to senior IT and ET students studying at the participating universities, which are located in the northern part of the country. In order to be eligible, students must be in good academic standing and participate in a programming contest and interview. The best candidates will receive a one-year, VND 54 million scholarship and a chance to work at Samsung Vietnam’s Mobile R&D Center (SVMC) in Hanoi.

The program also includes various initiatives designed to promote Vietnamese tech students’ development.

STP 2017’s Algorithm Application course will be open to all students at participating universities who enjoy programming. The ultimate goal of the course is to provide 1,500 students with access to programming lessons taught by experienced faculty members.

Samsung Vietnam also funds hands-on, which offer university students opportunities to participate in research, engineering seminars and group activities, and sponsors students’ participation in software design and programming contests.

STP 2017’s new Business Internship Program, meanwhile, will select 500 IT and ET students for internships at SVMC. Students will gain valuable experience, receive training in algorithm application, and develop advanced analytical and problem-solving skills that will help them secure a position at an IT corporation after graduation.

The program will also put approximately VND 3.5 billion toward university-proposed mobile technology research and studies to benefit local communities. These projects will provide students with even more opportunities to hone their skills with hands-on, practical experience.

For centuries, libraries have been regarded as founts of knowledge and history – repositories in which to preserve vital wisdom to pass down from generation to generation. Each, regardless of its nature – from the Vatican’s Secret Archives to the massive Library of Congress – was built to ensure that humankind’s progress would not be lost to the sands of time.

In this digital age, however, it’s easy for physical books and libraries to become afterthoughts. The ubiquity of e-books, PDFs and word documents – instantly downloadable via the internet – have diminished our need for them. Libraries must therefore find ways to adapt to changes brought about by our modern conveniences. If they don’t, they’ll no longer serve as storehouses for our knowledge and histories. Rather, they’ll become history themselves.

Samsung recognizes this need for modernization. In an age where a wealth of information on seemingly any topic can be obtained with a quick search of the worldwide web, libraries should be more than just places for people to leisurely read a novel or do some academic research.

Although there’s nothing wrong with silently studying by oneself at a local library, studying with a group can ultimately prove more productive, allowing one’s ideas to be constructively critiqued and their progress to be appraised. While an innovative thought or groundbreaking idea may certainly hatch in the mind of one person, honing such an idea with others’ informed input can go a long way toward improving and realizing it.

Since their respective launches, S.hub Ho Chi Minh and S.hub Hanoi have quickly become hubs for students, professionals and speakers to share their ideas and experiences.

Samsung’s S.hub initiative was born of this philosophy. For it, Samsung teamed up with the Ho Chi Minh City General Science Library and the National Library of Vietnam in Hanoi, whose outdated buildings and equipment have hindered public attendance, to renovate the libraries’ facilities and outfit them with the latest tools and equipment.

S.hub Ho Chi Minh (left) and S.hub Hanoi, after their respective

The goal of the initiative is not only to update the facilities with modern tech like touchscreen monitors and personal tablets, but to also create spaces that can serve as scholarly hubs where people, especially students, may gather and nurture one another’s academic inclinations.

The first S.hub, installed in the Ho Chi Minh City General Science Library, opened its doors in October of last year. S.hub Hanoi, meanwhile, which established a collaborative space for students and young professionals to gather in the Vietnamese capital, launched just a few weeks ago, on November 24.

These successful launches in Vietnam’s largest and most dynamic cities not only mark the triumph of the initiative, but also establish an effective blueprint to install additional S.hubs in cities across Vietnam – and perhaps other countries as well.

Activities during S.hub Ho Chi Minh’s one-year anniversary celebration included bookmark making, as well as a book auction, sale and exchange.