HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Enterprises in southern provinces that have resumedoperation after the end of the social distancing period are facing a shortageof workers.

Pham Oanh, whose hometown is in Thua Thien-Hue province, has been aconstruction worker in the southern provinces for about 10 years. Normally, hereturns 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 hishometown 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 garmentexport foreign company in Binh Duong province, said that her company had totemporarily close for a few months.

“I had to look for another job and now I work for a local garment company. Theincome is lower than when I worked in Binh Duong. However, I don't have to payrent for a house and the living cost in Binh Duong is higher than in ThuaThien-Hue.”

Truong Thi Thuy Lien, director of a leather and footwear export company in BinhDuong, said that many workers who had returned home for the Tet holiday did notreturn to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. "My company is constantlyrecruiting but it is not enough. Estimated shortage is about 15 percent."

Le Nhat Tuong, chairman of Pousung Vietnam Ltd in Dong Nai province, said thecompany had built more factories and planned to recruit about 10,000 workers in2020. However, since the beginning of the year, only 1,000 new employees havebeen 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 'jobskippers', 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 orclose because of the shortage of workers.

Le Thanh Nhan, owner of a large restaurant in HCM City’s District 1, said thatof his 100 workers, "more than half are from central provinces and theyhave not returned because the COVID-19 pandemic is not fully undercontrol".

Lien’s footwear company has decided to outsource some stages of production whenthere are too many orders.

For Pousung Company, the company will invest in technology to reduce manuallabour, continue its annual recruitment and training plans for employees, andprovide incentive policies for new employees, according to Tuong./.