On the morning of 30/12, Truong Van Phong, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks (Hepza), announced that Panko Vina's South Korean parent company approved the payment plan. Workers will receive this payment in January 2026; however, the exact amount remains undisclosed. This additional 13th-month salary reflects the group's goodwill during a period of considerable production and business difficulties.
 |
Panko Vina workers gathered at the administrative area on the afternoon of 29/12. *Photo: Le Tuyet*
Nguyen Thanh Hoang, Chairman of Panko Vina Company's trade union, stated that company regulations link the year-end bonus, or 13th-month salary, to the factory's production performance. Given that the annual production plan is complete and workers have fulfilled 12 months of employment, the trade union advocated for this payment. The average basic salary used for bonus calculation for workers is approximately 7 million VND.
"This payment is essentially a bonus for workers to celebrate Tet", Hoang commented. He added that workers were deeply disappointed when the company initially announced the factory closure in former Binh Duong, offering only 2 million VND in support.
Beyond the 13th-month salary, the company also agreed to other worker requests: paying January 2026 salaries based on the new regional minimum wage, fully addressing benefits for pregnant or maternity-leave female workers, and assisting with social insurance procedures.
Panko Vina operated in Vietnam for over 23 years, establishing its first factory in My Phuoc 1 Industrial Park, Ben Cat ward, in former Binh Duong. This facility was once a significant employer, with more than 8,000 workers at its peak. Nevertheless, facing a decline in orders and a strategic shift towards Quang Nam (now Da Nang), the factory will halt operations from early February 2026.
Following the factory closure announcement, seven enterprises within My Phuoc 1 Industrial Park have registered to absorb over 2,700 Panko Vina workers.
Le Tuyet
