Prospective employees interviewed online for a job vacancy. (Photo nld.vn) Extended social distancing measures in cities and provinces across the countryhave hit the labour market hard. Since the beginning of the year, the incomeand job security of 13 million workers have been affected. Things took a turnfor the worse in June when as many as 10 percent of the country's businesseswere forced to shut down, putting almost 4 million people out of work,according to labour experts.
Workers, who are mostly from the countryside, have had to either leave largecities or seek temporary employment since. It is thought that many businesseswill face a shortage of workers once the virus is under control. In a recentsurvey, only 60-70 percent of workers said they would return to large cities.
Vu Quang Thanh, deputy-director of a job agency in Hanoi, said as thevaccination drive picked up and social distancing measures were relaxed, therehave been signs of recovery in the labour market. Firms will ramp up productionto meet the typical higher demand that occurs during the last quarter of theyear but must fill many vacancies to do so.
In light of recent developments, the department of labour under the MOLISA hasbeen working closely with Ho Chi Minh authority to help workers return to thecity. Vice Chairman of the municipal People Committee Vice Chairman Vo Van Hoanalso called on businesses to take steps to retain their workforce.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, former head of the Institute of Labour Science andSocial Affairs under the MOLISA, said employment centres will play a crucialrole in connecting workers and employers in the months to come. In the longrun, however, the country must invest in retraining programmes for workers tohelp them secure better job opportunities.
Many government efforts have been implemented to support workers, notablyGovernment Decree 116/NQ-CP that designated 30 trillion VND as support fundsfor those who have been affected by the pandemic./.
VNA
