Director apologizes for 'scissors by the neck' message

Yoshiharu Jin, director of precision machinery manufacturer Iiyama Seiki Vietnam in Hai Phong City, said in the letter written Tuesday that he regrets his rude action.

Workers and leaders of Iiyama Seiki Vietnam meet on Sept. 26, 2022 after the company's director Yoshiharu Jin fired two workers with an obscene image. Photo to by Le Tan

He promised that he would be a good manager and would always discuss with the union labor chairman before making decisions. He also promised to listen to his workers to develop the company and create a happy work environment.

A representative of the Trade Union of Hai Phong Economic Zone, which required Jin to make a formal apology, said that his decision to post the obscene image was ignited by workers violating the company’s regulations on phone usage.

A firing notice of Iiyama Seiki Vietnam seen on the company's bulletin board in Hai Phong City, September 2022. Photo acquired by VnExpress

Jin on Sept. 23 stuck a message on the company’s bulletin board concerning Trinh Quang Vinh and Nguyen Van Thuan, two workers that had earlier requested to resign.

Jin himself approved their letters of resignation but went on to stick the image on the bulletin board.

The director’s attached image caused uproar among many workers and together they filed a report to the company’s board.

Workers also claimed that Jin often entered staff rooms without permission to take photos and upload them to internal chat groups.

The company’s leaders explained that Jin had only once taken a photo inside workers' bathrooms after finding staff were not working during their night shift.

They added that Jin went to the staff room to check if they were violating the company’s phone ban.