A series of online meetings took place every day at different levels. During the most stressful time due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in many provinces and cities and especially in two big cities that are also the main workplaces of Deo Ca Group (DCG), all activities did not seem to sbe suspended.

At the time of transferring the old year to the new year, people may have thought that a difficult year due to the pandemic was in the past. The message in 2021 of DCG’s Chairman is “Aspiration”. In fact, by this time of 2021 when the pandemic is just like  violent waves, we witness the “Aspiration” raising up in Deo Ca people.

In the dawn of the first day that Ho Chi Minh City was blocked by the pandemic, via the e-portal of DCG, Mr. Ho Minh Hoang mentioned Deo Ca’s bravery and ability to overcome difficulties as a way of life and emphasized: “You are my family“.

“You are my family”

The Covid – 19 storm is mopping up and causing unprecedented serious consequences. Millions of people are facing unemployment, have to make their living to solve financial burden. It is very touched and sad when we watch the reportage “Boundary” referring to the fight against death at Hung Vuong maternity hospital, which is a small zone of the vast Saigon. Then many others is becoming pitiful because of the influence of Covid – 19.

Currently, when I am still working, receiving salary, thinking and developing myself in “Deo Ca house”, I consider myself luckier than millions of others. In order to maintain the income for about 6.000 employees, the captain always worries day and night and is trying to steer the Deo Ca boat through this excessively difficult period.

Nearly 2 years ago, the pandemic appeared and spread around the world. In Vietnam, in the first eight months of 2021, more than 85.000 businesses withdrew from the market (up 24.2% comparing to the same period in 2020), resulting in thousands of people losing their jobs. That figure clearly reflected the heavy impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on domestic businesses. When will the pandemic be controlled so that people can return to normal life? And how does its consequences affect social life?

While many people fear unemployment in that most provinces and cities throughout the country implement social distancing, DCG’s employees received the message from the head of DCG: “You are my family”.

With the policy of “leaving no one behind”, when the pandemic broke out in Vietnam in early 2020, the DCG’s Chairman directly visited each project to encourage employees. “Now, if you worked in another business, you might quit. But in Deo Ca, we still don’t leave the working position, the system is still operated. We is still guaranteeing the work for you with a offering that we strictly comply with the direction of the Government” and the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control”, said Mr. Ho Minh Hoang in front of employees at the Hai Van 2 Project’s  site at 10 A.M on March 30, 2020.

DCG has not stopped moving for one day

When the pandemic most violently attacked, we saw hundreds of employees in Trung Luong – My Thuan, at  toll stations and DCG’s offices being vaccinated. We saw the touching image of a DCG’s Vice Chairman Mr. Luu Xuan Thuy waiting at the gate of the isolation area to welcome the the employees who completed the concentrated isolation in Tien Giang.

For nearly 4 months, most employees in the Southern region could not work at the office. There are employees who can perform work remotely, there are others with their job characteristics who cannot work from home. However, no employee has to quit. We are paid according to the salary policy for employees during the Covid-19 pandemic, which all employees are guaranteed a salary at least according to the regional minimum wage.

“Last time, although my work was affected, I was still fully paid while some friends and acquaintances were late in salary or even unemployed. I am the breadwinner, so that salary is really meaningful to my family during this difficult time”, Ms. Ngoc Phuong, a handywoman at the head office 32 Thach Thi Thanh Street, District I, Ho Chi Minh City, shared.

Ms. Vo Thi Bich Ngoc, a sales staff of Deo Ca Security Company, currently working at the head office, said: “Inspite of working from home, I have been paid by the company for the past few months according to the new salary regulations. I understand that is a huge share of the Group to employees. I also hope to be able to work and contribute to the Group for a long time”.

On September 21, 2021, Hanoi has been loosened the blockade, my colleagues in the capital have returned to the office. From the South, in the center of the pandemic, I perceived their excitement through daily work interactions.

By NGUYEN NGA