Caring for the spiritual well-being of workers
In addition to striving to boost production and workplace performance, an increasing number of workers, civil servants, and employees in Hai Phong are now benefiting from cultural and sports activities organized right at their workplaces.
A “bonding force” for workers
Last July, Lai Cach Industrial Park in Viet Hoa Ward was filled with the colorful shirts of more than 4,000 athletes taking part in the 2026 “Healthy and Beautiful Steps” Running Race, jointly organized by the Viet Hoa Ward Trade Union and Mao Dien Commune Trade Union.
On the 2.5-kilometer course open to both men and women, thousands of trade union members, workers, civil servants and employees joined the run. One after another, their footsteps created an enthusiastic and joyful atmosphere, demonstrating the solidarity and dynamism of the workforce.
Ms. Hoang Thi Hanh, who works at Lai Cach Industrial Park, said: “I’m very happy to see so many people taking part in this activity. It feels like a festival, giving workers an opportunity to interact and strengthen their bonds after working hours. As a result, sports and physical fitness activities among workers, civil servants and employees are becoming increasingly widespread.”
In addition, a variety of activities, including the “Golden Bell” quiz, tug-of-war competitions, safe-driving guidance, exchanging recyclable materials for gifts, trade union member welfare booths, free health check-ups and consultations, as well as reproductive health and family planning counseling, have been organized, creating a lively community space for workers.
At Sumidenso Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Dai An Industrial Park, sports activities are also regularly maintained. Every year, the company organizes football, volleyball, table tennis, badminton and Chinese chess tournaments, attracting large numbers of employees and workers.
Each of the company’s factories has eight men’s football teams and five to six women’s football teams. The tournaments are professionally organized, from qualifying rounds to the finals, creating a vibrant atmosphere of competition among workers. The company has invested in three artificial-turf football fields and two volleyball courts at its factory sites.
The tournaments are officiated by professional referees and offer attractive prizes, providing additional motivation for workers to train and compete. Mr. Doan Quang Huan, Head of the Culture, Arts and Sports Division at Sumidenso Vietnam Co., Ltd., said: “Throughout the year, we organize numerous sports and cultural activities to take care of the workers’ spiritual well-being. Our sports tournaments receive strong support from employees. Some events attract more than 1,000 workers.”
In addition to sports tournaments, the company also organizes “Family Day” and “Workers’ Day,” featuring activities such as sack races, tug-of-war, musical performances, painting, flower arranging and cooking. These activities create a warm and friendly atmosphere, giving workers more opportunities to interact with their colleagues and families.
At Hyundai Kefico Vietnam Co., Ltd., the company has built an artificial-turf football field, a gym, yoga facilities and table-tennis facilities for its employees. These sports facilities have become convenient places for workers to exercise during breaks or after working hours.
Mr. Nguyen Van Bang, a worker at the company, said: “The company’s investment in sports facilities gives workers better opportunities to stay healthy right at their workplace. After stressful hours of work, a football match, a gym session or simply a few minutes of exercise can help workers relax and recharge.”
Meanwhile, at Yazaki Hai Phong Vietnam Co., Ltd., despite limited sports facilities, the company’s Trade Union continues to organize cultural and sports activities. On average, the Trade Union holds a football tournament and a music festival each year, attracting hundreds of workers.
Such recreational activities are gradually becoming an integral part of workers’ lives. Beyond helping them stay healthy, cultural and sports activities provide an opportunity for people who normally only meet each other on the production line to spend time together, communicate, share experiences and build stronger relationships.
Taking care of workers’ spiritual well-being
Behind these tournaments and sports activities lies a shift in the way businesses and trade unions care for their employees. In the past, such efforts often focused primarily on wages, benefits and working conditions. Today, workers’ mental well-being, health and need for social interaction are receiving increasing attention.
From large-scale citywide events to recreational activities organized directly at the workplace, the common goal is to create a healthy working environment and help employees maintain a better balance between work and life.
Bringing more than 4,000 people together for a running race not only creates momentum for the physical fitness movement but also demonstrates the collective strength of workers, civil servants and employees.
According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Viet, Chairman of the Trade Union of Yazaki Hai Phong Vietnam Co., Ltd., the company always strives to maintain a balance between work and the spiritual well-being of its employees. Organizing cultural and sports activities is essential to help workers relieve stress after demanding hours on the job. These activities also provide a platform for employees to interact, learn from one another and strengthen solidarity among departments and units.
“Through cultural and sports activities, employees can feel more relaxed and their sense of solidarity can be strengthened. This, in turn, improves work efficiency and contributes to the company’s development,” Viet said.
Experiences from businesses show that caring for workers’ spiritual well-being is no longer simply a movement-oriented activity. It has become an integral part of workplace policies aimed at maintaining stable production, fostering harmonious labor relations and supporting sustainable business operations.
This is also how trade unions and businesses stand alongside workers—not only by providing care and support so that they can work with peace of mind, but also by creating motivation for employees to develop a stronger sense of commitment to their workplaces, work together to build successful businesses, and contribute to the city’s rapid and sustainable development.
Mr. Nguyen Van Quyet, Standing Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong Federation of Labor, said that caring for the material and spiritual well-being of trade union members and workers has always been one of the key priorities of the trade union organization. In addition to protecting workers’ legitimate rights and interests, trade unions at all levels across the city are increasingly focusing on creating cultural and sports activities that meet the practical needs of workers.
“We identify caring for the spiritual well-being of trade union members and workers as an important part of trade union activities. Through cultural and sports programs, workers have more opportunities to stay healthy, relax after work, interact with colleagues and develop stronger bonds with their companies. These activities also help bring trade unions closer to their members and enable them to better understand and promptly respond to workers’ concerns and aspirations,” Quyet said.
The city’s Federation of Labor has instructed trade unions at all levels to continue renewing the content and methods of organizing activities, making them more practical, diverse and appropriate to the characteristics of each locality, industry and business.
In particular, sports and cultural activities, Workers’ Days, Family Days and similar events should be organized regularly to create a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere among trade union members and workers.
Minh Nguyet