For the sake of “making a living”

At a housing construction site in the Noong Chứn area, Nam Thanh ward, Điện Biên Phủ city, Điện Biên province, witnessing workers hanging on shaky scaffolding, some building, some plastering, some throwing bricks... all without protective clothing, no safety nets around, we could begin to understand the hardships, exhaustion, and even the dangers faced by freelance workers.

Stepping out of a pile of cement, bricks, and dust, drenched in sweat, Trần Duy Tuyên, residing in Thanh Luông commune, Điện Biên district, who has nearly 20 years of experience as a construction worker, said: “When we take on a project, we just dive into work to earn money. No one teaches us about workplace safety, and we are too busy to attend any training, mainly just exchanging tips among us to reduce risks, especially when working at heights. For protective gear, gloves and a helmet are about all we have.”

Building houses, construction of technical works, mining, assembly and electrical mechanics, and simple labor in agriculture... these are some of the occupations where many freelance workers participate. They work hard, facing constant risks from their jobs. However, most of them must accept the reality of working without contracts, no insurance, and no training on basic labor safety, not even safety equipment.

The indifference towards ensuring occupational safety and hygiene from both the workers and employers is one of the main causes of work accidents. Statistics on work accidents among those working without contracts in the province show that in 2024, there were 11 work accidents, leading to 6 deaths and 5 serious injuries. Among them, simple work accidents in agriculture accounted for 4 cases, and simple labor in house construction accounted for 7 cases.

Work accidents are something no one wishes for, but when they happen, in addition to the damage to health, freelance and temporary workers without binding contracts find it difficult to claim related benefits. In fact, because most freelance workers work without contracts, when an accident occurs, the authorities cannot track it since neither the employer, nor the worker reports it.

For example, in the accident report for the province, it was shown that in 2024, communes and towns did not report fatal work accidents involving workers without contracts to the authorities as required; they did not prepare records or report the incidents to the district, town, or city where the accident occurred, especially in cases of serious injuries. This has made it difficult for the authorities to protect the workers’ legitimate rights.

More practical “support” needed

In recent years, the government has implemented several policies aimed at freelance workers. For instance, voluntary social insurance and universal health insurance have allowed freelance workers to receive healthcare, pension, and death benefits. More practically, the Law on Occupational Safety and Hygiene clearly states that workers without contracts have rights such as being protected by law to work in safe conditions and being trained in safety and hygiene when doing high-risk jobs. In addition, freelance workers are allowed to participate in and benefit from voluntary work accident insurance, with the government providing support for the contribution rates...

Many policies are in place, but very few freelance workers participate in them. This is mainly because of a lack of awareness among many freelance workers who do not see the benefits, and because of their difficult economic conditions, low incomes, and unstable jobs, they are generally not enthusiastic about these policies.

Lò Văn Thường, a freelance worker from Mé hamlet, Thanh Hưng commune, Điện Biên district, working as a bricklayer on a construction site, said: “I also want to buy insurance to protect myself, but the money I earn does not even cover my daily expenses, and the income is unstable. I cannot afford to pay for insurance since it requires a long-term commitment. Many times, my colleagues have had accidents like falling off scaffolding or being hit by bricks or steel... Thinking about it scares me, but I still have to work to earn a living.”

Given the reality described above, it is clear that more practical and effective solutions are needed to help freelance workers easily access and benefit from existing social welfare policies. Additionally, it is essential to strengthen inspections of the businesses employing freelance workers to identify violations and address them in a timely manner. Freelance workers themselves also need to protect themselves through various means, with understanding social insurance policies being crucial in protecting themselves before agreeing to work for any organization or unit.