Enterprises in the southern provinces of Vietnam are facing a shortage
of workers because many have not returned from their hometown after
the easing of social distancing measures. (Photo: VNA)
Pham Oanh, whose hometown is in Thua Thien-Hue province, has been a construction
worker in the southern provinces for about 10 years. Normally, he returns to
work in the southern provinces after Tet (Lunar New Year).
However, after the COVID-19 outbreak, he decided to look for a job in his
hometown and is now working at a cement company in the province.
Pham Kim Yen, who lives in Thua Thien-Hue province and works for a garment
export foreign company in Binh Duong province, said that her company had to
temporarily close for a few months.
“I had to look for another job and now I work for a local garment company. The
income is lower than when I worked in Binh Duong. However, I don't have to pay
rent for a house and the living cost in Binh Duong is higher than in Thua Thien-Hue.”
Truong Thi Thuy Lien, director of a leather and footwear export company in Binh
Duong, said that many workers who had returned home for the Tet holiday did not
return to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. "My company is constantly
recruiting but it is not enough. Estimated shortage is about 15 percent."
Le Nhat Tuong, chairman of Pousung Vietnam Ltd in Dong Nai province, said the
company had built more factories and planned to recruit about 10,000 workers in
2020. However, since the beginning of the year, only 1,000 new employees have
been recruited, and the recruitment plan has been suspended.
In addition to adding more workers when there is a need to expand production,
Pousung Company annually recruits new employees to supplement workers and 'job
skippers', Tuong said.
The food service sector also faces a shortage of workers. Many restaurants,
cafes, and commercial services in Ho Chi Minh City have had to scale down or
close because of the shortage of workers.
Le Thanh Nhan, owner of a large restaurant in HCM City’s District 1, said that
of his 100 workers, "more than half are from central provinces and they have not
returned because the COVID-19 pandemic is not fully under control".
Lien’s footwear company has decided to outsource some stages of production when
there are too many orders.
For Pousung Company, the company will invest in technology to reduce manual
labour, continue its annual recruitment and training plans for employees, and
provide incentive policies for new employees, according to Tuong.
Source: VNA