Ba Ria-Vung Tau (VNS/VNA) - Seafood processingenterprises in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau are facing a seriousshortage of skilled labourers, affecting their production and exports.

Although many workers have been offered more attractive employment terms sincethe beginning of the year, the shortage has worsened.

Of 900 seafood processing enterprises in the province, about 60 percent of themneed an additional 7,000 employees.

The figure could be even higher since some companies have not registered withthe province's employment service centre.

At processing factories, workers face cold and wet working environments, withunpleasant odours.

They often take the job temporarily until they find something better.

The presence of industrial parks and other industries in the provincehas also created a more competitive job environment.

Seafood processor The Phu Co. Ltd in Vung Tau city, for example, is in need ofabout 1,000 new workers to expand its production, but it has only filled 25 percentof the jobs.

The company has nearly 300 employees, with 90 percent of them temporary workerswho often leave at different times.

To ensure that signed export contracts are fulfilled, the company hasspent a lot of money to pay workers overtime.

Despite offering free accommodation and transportation, extra bonuses andmid-shift meals, many workers have left for other jobs.

Vu Xuan Duc, head of the quality management department at The Phu Co. Ltd, saidmost of the company’s workers lived in rural areas in the province.

“When the crop season comes, they often return home to help at the farm,” hesaid. Many of the workers are reluctant to sign long-term contracts.

The Ba Ria-Vung Tau Seafood Processing, Import and Export Joint-Stock Company(Baseafood) employs 300-400 skilled workers to ensure its export volume of 200tonnes of finished products per month.

The company currently has a shortage of 150 employees, mainly skilled workers.

Many job applicants lack skills and professionalism, while most of thecompany’s employees are low-skilled or unskilled workers.

To improve their skills and meet the demand forhigher quality products, the company has to spend time trainingworkers.

Do Dinh Hai, head of Job Introduction Office under the province’s EmploymentService Centre, said that seafood processing companies were being affected bychanging job structures. “Workers tend to switch to other industriesfor a higher income,” he said.

The seafood processing sector employs mostly migrant workers, but the number inthis category has decreased.

Some companies have built processing factories in rural areas to find workers.

“Seafood processing enterprises should develop policies to supportworkers so they will stay a long time and give them training to improvetheir skills,” Hai said.

Responsible agencies should also ensure a more balanced labour supply anddemand by disseminating information about the labour market, he said. — VNS/VNA