Hanoi (VNA) – Craft villages in thecapital city of Hanoi are sharing a concern over the shortage of highly-skilledcraftsmen, which is hindering them from improving the designs andcompetitiveness of products.
Hanoi is now home to more than 1,350 craft villages,accounting for 45 percent of the nation’s total number. The villages togetherhave created jobs and stable incomes for 740,000 workers.
Nguyen Nhu Dien, from Son Linh footwear establishmentin Phu Yen commune of Phu Xuyen district, said the Phu Yen footwear and leathercraft village is facing a labour shortage, particularly those with high skills.
Many villagers no longer want to take part in thetraditional craft and they switch to work in industrial parks for a more stableincome source and better insurance, Dien added.
According to Nguyen Phuong Quang, an artisan andbusinessman in Chuong My district’s Phu Vinh village, which is known for bambooand rattan products, said the labour issue is making local production stagnant.Phu Vinh’s bamboo and rattan products are now mostly produced followingready-made designs thus lacking diversity amid an increasing competitivemarket.
Hoang Xuan Thuy, director of the Hanoi centre forindustrial promotion and industrial development consultancy, stressedvocational training is key to tackling the problem, adding that his centre isorganising courses on bamboo and rattan crafts, ceramics, and silk weaving,among others.
Being aware of the matter, the Hanoi People’sCommittee has recently issued a plan on craft village development for 2018.Accordingly, the city will provide funds for 12 villages to build trademarks, 20craft production establishments to hire experts for product designing, and 14other establishments to apply advanced technologies.
The capital will also provide training for 24,000rural labourers and 1,500 managers of rural production establishments.
In 2017, the city’s craft villages brought home estimatedrevenue of 200 million USD from exports.-VNA