In Vietnam, 800 workers lose jobs as Hong Kong owner disappears

The workers did not receive any written notice from the management board

In Vietnam, 800 workers lose jobs as Hong Kong owner disappears
Workers of Shop Vac Vietnam look for information in front of the company. Photo: Ngoc Anh / Tuoi Tre

More than 800 workers of Shop Vac Vietnam Corporation Ltd. in the northern province of Hai Duong have to stop working without any prior notification as the business owner, a Hong Kong man, has disappeared.

The province’s Industrial Park Management Board has cooperated with relevant authorities in working with the company, located in Phu Thai Industrial Park.

However, the firm failed to send a legal representative or an authorized staff member to the meeting, said a representative of the board on Friday.

Speaking with Nguyen Thanh Hung, deputy head of personnel and administration of Shop Vac Vietnam, local authorities learned that the company had authorized an attorney to represent it in solving necessary issues.

According to Hung, the firm had announced the suspension of 800 workers since September 19 to wait for manufacturing materials. However, the workers did not receive any written notice from the management board.

Shop Vac Vietnam had fulfilled wage payment until August, but it has still owed social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance premiums since July.

The working group asked Hung to inform the person in charge that they would have to show up and work with authorities to ensure interests for workers.

At present, Nam Tai International Co. Ltd. is tasked with preserving all assets of Shop Vac Vietnam during the investigation, which is aimed at protecting employees and assisting the local government in dealing with the case.

Workers of the enterprise have gathered in front of the factory over the past few days to seek some information.

Shop Vac Vietnam, 100 percent owned by Hong Kong, received an investment certificate in May 2013 to build a factory producing vacuum cleaners and spare parts.

According to a representative of Nam Tai International, the developer of Phu Thai Industrial Park, Shop Vac Vietnam had been operating normally until September 19.

However, it has not paid rental since July and it still owes VND11 billion (US$473,874).

tuoitrenews.vn

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