Yinqiu Hardware's Key Achievements in Poverty Alleviation

——Advanced Deeds of Ningbo Yinqiu Hardware Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Targeted poverty alleviation is a crucial task for the Party and the nation, and 2020 marked a pivotal year in the fight against poverty and the realization of a moderately prosperous society. To assist impoverished regions in Guizhou, Yuyao City partnered with Wangmo County in Guizhou as part of the broader arrangements and deployments by the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee. Responding to the national call and under the coordination of the Ningbo and Yuyao human resources departments, Yinqiu Hardware actively participated in the paired assistance program by employing workers from impoverished areas in Guizhou. The company elevated targeted poverty alleviation to a strategic priority, fulfilling its social responsibility and reflecting the patriotic spirit of a new generation of entrepreneurs. By giving back to society and promoting socialist core values, Yinqiu Hardware became an indispensable part of Zhejiang Province's poverty alleviation efforts, contributing its share to the fight against poverty.

Employment of Workers from Impoverished Areas in Guizhou 2019: The company employed 837 workers, including 753 from other provinces (230 from Guizhou). In September, 60 impoverished workers from Xingyi and Wangmo in Guizhou were recruited.

2020: The company employed 1,082 workers, including 975 from other provinces (286 from Guizhou), with 98 registered as impoverished households (7 from Xingyi and 91 from Wangmo).

These workers were assigned to the following positions: 36 in compassionate positions in the assembly department. 59 in compassionate positions in the stamping department. 3 in management roles (2 in the warehouse and 1 in the administration department).

To help these workers quickly adapt, secure employment, and experience the warmth of a family at Yinqiu, the company implemented the following five measures:

1. Ensuring a Comfortable Life for Impoverished Workers

① In late August 2019, when impoverished workers from Xingyi and Wangmo in Guizhou arrived at the company at 10 PM, they were warmly welcomed with a hot dinner, including a pork chop and a chicken leg, to ensure they were well-fed. After the meal, the company bus took them to a rented apartment. Seeing the brand-new dormitories equipped with air conditioning and water heaters, the workers were amazed—they had never seen such good living conditions. This was their experience of Yinqiu's care.

In November 2019, the company invested over 2 million RMB to renovate a two-story apartment building named "Yinqiu Home," featuring 56 rooms and 190 beds (including 20 rooms for couples) to accommodate impoverished workers. Each room was equipped with a water heater, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi. The company provided two blankets for each worker and assigned a dedicated manager from Wangmo to oversee their work and daily life. Cleaning staff were also hired to maintain the dormitories. Additionally, an activity room was set up with a TV, ping-pong tables, books, newspapers, and board games. Impoverished workers were allowed to stay free of charge.

② Impoverished workers received free meals, with weekly meal subsidies deposited into their meal cards, allowing them to choose their preferred dishes in the cafeteria.

③ Holiday benefits: The company distributed various welfare goods during holidays.

2. Ensuring Job Satisfaction for Impoverished Workers

Considering the limited skill levels of the workers from Guizhou, the company prioritized assigning them to compassionate positions that were easy to learn, well-paid, and safe. Experienced workers were assigned to mentor them, helping them quickly integrate into the company. Impoverished workers received equal pay for equal work, with an average monthly salary of around 5,000 RMB from September 2019 to August 2020. Government poverty alleviation subsidies were also distributed in full (5,000 RMB every three months), bringing their total monthly income to over 6,000 RMB. Additionally, the company provided social insurance for all impoverished workers.

3. Providing Warmth in Times of Difficulty

The company cared for the daily lives of impoverished workers and addressed their practical difficulties. All impoverished workers joined the trade union. When they arrived and lacked living expenses, the company advanced their salaries as an exception. If workers faced family difficulties, the company provided loans to help them through tough times. The trade union also closely monitored their situations, offering solutions whenever problems arose.>

For example, in mid-March, a registered impoverished worker from Wangmo asked his daughter in Guangdong to send him some money. Since he did not have a smartphone and could not use WeChat transfers, he sought help from Deputy General Manager Yu. After adding the worker's daughter on WeChat, Yu received the transfer and gave the cash to the worker.

At Yinqiu, whether it was the deputy general manager or HR staff, their phones often became "transfer channels" for registered impoverished workers. Many workers, after receiving their salaries, would withdraw cash from the bank and, instead of transferring it themselves, would bring the cash to Deputy General Manager Yu or HR staff to help transfer it to their families—possibly to save on transfer fees or avoid the hassle of bank transfers.

One example is the couple Wei Tao and Huang Daojuan, who worked in compassionate poverty alleviation positions. On July 16, 2018, Huang gave birth prematurely to a baby girl weighing only 1,000 grams, who also suffered from sepsis. The medical expenses drained their savings and left them in debt, to their classification as registered impoverished households. On February 29, 2020, the couple arrived at Yinqiu through the Wangmo County human resources department. On March 27, during a video call with her family, Huang learned that her father-in-law needed 1,000 RMB to take their daughter for a medical checkup. With only 400 RMB left, Wei and Huang decided to seek help from the company, which promptly provided the necessary funds.

Upon learning about the situation, General Manager Hu Beijun immediately donated 1,500 RMB from the company's trade union fund. After confirming that the child had fully recovered, Hu arranged for the company to provide the couple with an additional 300 RMB per month for the child's nutritional needs.

Another example is Shi Mingbo, an impoverished worker from Wangmo who joined the company in August 2019. During a visit, it was discovered that he was an orphan, so the company provided him with extra care. Earlier this year, out of gratitude, Shi brought his cousins to work at the company, helping them escape poverty together.

4. Transforming "Blood Transfusion" into "Blood Generation" to Ensure Workers' Satisfaction

In its poverty alleviation efforts, the company not only focused on helping workers earn money but also aimed to instill in them the belief that hard work leads to prosperity. Yinqiu provided professional skills training to equip workers with specialized abilities. Additionally, the company offered a clear career advancement path for outstanding employees, giving them opportunities to move into management roles. This approach not only increased their income but also enhanced their personal capabilities, bringing them greater satisfaction.

5. Ensuring Peace of Mind for the Families of Impoverished Workers

The company provided family-like care to impoverished workers in terms of work, life, and family matters, allowing them to experience the warmth of home even while far away. Through news media in Yuyao and Wangmo, the real-life experiences of these workers in Yuyao were shared with their families back home. This warmth and care reassured their families, even from thousands of miles away.

Through these measures, impoverished workers received ample care and experienced the warmth of a family at Yinqiu. The company was filled with love and compassion, creating a sense of belonging. Even workers who had to leave due to personal reasons expressed their desire to return after resolving their issues, and Yinqiu management warmly welcomed them back. Yinqiu's compassionate poverty alleviation efforts and genuine care for its employees gained widespread recognition and media attention. Outlets such as Yuyao Daily, Modern Gold News, Economic Daily, People's Daily, and local television stations reported on Yinqiu's poverty alleviation initiatives.

The company's efforts also received government recognition and attention. On March 9, 2020, Secretary Li of Wangmo County, Guizhou Province, personally visited Yinqiu Hardware. At the end of July 2020, leaders from the State Council's Poverty Alleviation Office also visited the company, listened to General Manager Hu Beijun's report on poverty alleviation work, and engaged in face-to-face discussions with impoverished worker representatives. The leaders expressed deep satisfaction upon hearing the workers' praise and recognition of the company. This recognition from higher authorities was not only an affirmation of Yinqiu's efforts but also a source of encouragement.

Over 500 years ago, Wang Yangming, a native of Yuyao, established the academy in Guizhou—Longgang Academy—marking the beginning of Confucian education in the region. Most of the academies established later were founded by Wang Yangming's disciples, and his contributions to local education were profound. The bond between Yuyao and Guizhou has existed since ancient times, and today, a new generation of Yuyao people continues to strengthen this connection. As a local enterprise in Yuyao, Yinqiu Hardware adheres to the principles of Wang Yangming's philosophy, emphasizing the unity of knowledge and action. The company is committed to precise, heartfelt, and practical poverty alleviation efforts, contributing to the nation's fight against poverty and the partnership between Yuyao and Wangmo.

In conclusion, with government support, the efforts of enterprises like Yinqiu, the care of trade unions, and the hard work of impoverished workers, we believe that victory in the battle against poverty will be achieved swiftly!