>> Sugar company causes massive fish deaths

>> Investigation begins on Tra Khuc River fish deaths

Mass deaths of wildlife in Tra Khuc River have led to major changes for some companies.

Quang Phu Sugar Manufacturer's employees working.

Petition letter from the workers to the Company.

After a string of fish and duck deaths in Tra Khuc River, Quang Ngai Alcohol Manufacturer's was forced to close down, and now, Quang Phu Sugar Manufacturer is being forced to move and merge with An Khe Sugar Manufacturer in Gia Lai Province, causing hundreds of workers to lose their job.

Facing this dreadful situation, a petition was made by many workers and sent to Quang Ngai Sugar Joint Stock Company (managing unit of Quang Phu Sugar Manufacturer) in hopes that they will receive salary support and benefits from the company, once the manufacturer is moved.

The majority of these workers are well into their 40s and 50s, and have had a stable family and working life in Quang Ngai. The manufacturer's change of location will adversely affect the lives of the workers and cause many challenges for their future.

Supposedly, all the workers will be moved to An Khe but what will happen to their family and how their new life is going to be remains to be seen. Many will be left with no choice but to retire early.

Worker Nguyen Van Dong shared, "I have been working here for years. Now that the manufacturer is going to be moved, we feel very uncertain and don't know whether we will stay or move as well. The idea of moving is not possible, but if we stay, we will lose our job. The most important thing that we want to know is what kind of wage and benefit policy they would have in place for us. We are not young anymore, and it's not easy to find a new job."

One concern that many workers feel has been addressed inadequately about the manufacturer's policies, is that many workers have been employees for about 20 years, but no one has received any special benefit from the manufacturer, and continue having to work in a harmful and physically exhausting environment.

Vo Thi Le, another worker, said with a tinge of anger in her voice, "We only have work for 7 months per year during the sugar-cane season. But according to the regulations, in terms of how they calculate their years, no matter how hard we worked, we would never be able to make 15 years of experience in order to receive benefits. Now that the manufacturer is going to be moved to An Khe, the people who decide to stay, won't be granted any insurance benefits."

It was reported that Quang Ngai Sugar Joint Stock Company is currently making plans for the move in which specific policies for workers will be addressed assuming they decide to move along with the manufacturer to An Khe, to take a leave, or to remain in Quang Ngai working for some other manufacturers of the company.