HO CHI MINH CITY VIETNAM — Several Vietnamese newspapers have reported that a furniture manufacturer tied to Abbyson executive Abby Rafieha has ceased operations just outside of Ho Chi Minh City, leaving more than 300 workers owed tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid wages and health care benefits.
English translations from the Tuoi Tré News and Bao Moi news services said that Signature Home Furnishings, whose principal owner they identified as Abbyson founder Abby Rafieha, announced this past summer it was suspending operations in the Binh Phuoc Province just outside Ho Chi Minh City. According to Tuoi Tré News, the company said it was suspending operations on July 11 and that it would pay June salaries no later than July 19.
Bao Moi said that based on a complaint filed with the publication and local labor officials, hundreds of workers allege that the company still owed them 40 days’ salary and three months of insurance.
Employees also told the publications that the Trade Union of Industrial Parks of Binh Phuoc province has created an application form for employees to send to the local court and an application form to exempt them from court fees so that those employees can send applications to the court and other agencies to claim benefits.
Tuoi Tré News reported that in addition to failing to support its workers, Signature asked employees to voluntarily submit resignation letters and also pledge not to file lawsuits if they wanted to receive unemployment benefits.
“Two months later, employees still have not been paid and have not received any insurance coverage, despite having contributed to social, healthcare, and unemployment insurance each month during their employment,” the paper said in its Sept. 26 report.
Tuoi Tré News said that Signature started its operation in Vietnam in early 2020 and currently owes over 300 workers “some VND3.2 billion (US$130,030) in unpaid wages and nearly VND1 billion ($40,420) in insurance coverage for three months.” It also said the company owes “some VND2.5 billion ($101,550) in union fees.”
Whether the workers will be ever paid is unknown. Abbyson was recently purchased by Asian furniture manufacturer Green River Group.
Home News Now has reached out to two members of Abbyson’s Rafieha family for comment and also has sent a request for comment to Green River Executive Vice President Angela Hsu.