Peel the shrimp

(Baonghean) -The shrimp farming profession has been around for more than ten years in Dien Ngoc (Dien Chau). The shrimp farming profession has created jobs and income for hundreds of local workers...

We were at the facility that specializes in purchasing all kinds of seafood, shrimp, fish, and squid owned by Mr. Le Van Tuan (55 years old) in Ngoc Tan hamlet, Dien Ngoc commune (Dien Chau). It was noon, many people, old and young, most of them women, were still busy with their work. Some peeled shrimp, some washed squid, some dried... worked and chatted, the atmosphere was really bustling.

Shrimp processing facility of Mr. Le Van Tuan, Ngoc Tan hamlet, Dien Ngoc commune (Dien Chau).

Ms. Le Thi Hong, while washing shrimp, boasted: "Compared to the job of grilling fish, the job of peeling shrimp is less arduous, the work is also stable. My group of 10 people peels shrimp for 3 establishments in the commune, the income is calculated by product. On average, 1 month is about 5 million VND. However, in addition to ensuring quantity, we also have to ensure quality, wash the shrimp clean, boil the shrimp evenly, when drying in the sun, do not stir by hand... As for the children, they take advantage of the time to do it in their free time. Le Ngoc Binh (13 years old) is called "Black Binh" by the shrimp peeling group because of his sunburned skin. Compared to the job of cleaning boats, the job of peeling shrimp is much healthier, the income is higher. In the past, because there were not many people buying shrimp for export, I had to choose the job of cleaning boats. Binh said: "Whenever I have free time, I do it, when I am busy with school, I don't. In my hometown, there is always work, such as washing fish, drying fish, peeling shrimp, there are many bosses in the commune now. There is no time to do it, the main workers in this profession are still adults, women". Binh goes to school and peels shrimp on holidays, and is paid over 1 million VND a month.

After each school day, Binh quickly put away his school bag and went to the shrimp-peeling boss's house. A large basket of shrimp, in a flash Binh had finished peeling, then spread it on a tray to dry. This job had become familiar to him since he was 8 years old. Binh's family had 5 people, including his parents and two older sisters. His father went to sea, his mother and two older sisters both did business at Dien Ngoc fishing port and also worked as shrimp peelers, earning a decent income. Every day, at 5am, Hong (Binh's mother) got up to cook rice, the whole family finished breakfast and Binh went to school, his mother and two older sisters went to peel shrimp, from 7am to 11am. In the afternoon from 2pm to 5pm, in the evening they did not peel shrimp but packaged dried squid, classified squid. The average income per person was nearly 5 million VND/month. Binh was proficient from washing shrimp to boiling shrimp and peeling shrimp to packaging. Binh's hands were nimble and skillful. After 5 years of working as a shrimp peeler, Binh was able to buy a bicycle, help his parents with the cost of buying books, and save nearly 5 million VND. While peeling shrimp, the children discussed their lessons and reviewed what they had learned. Mr. Le Van Tuan (owner of a shrimp and fish processing facility) said: "Seeing the children come here to work comfortably and discuss their lessons, I am also happy!"

Shrimp peeling has been around for more than ten years in Dien Ngoc, but has developed the most in the last five years, creating regular jobs for local workers. Spending just three or four hours a day peeling shrimp can earn an income of 70,000 to 100,000 VND. The most attractive workers are still female workers, while children like Binh only do it in their spare time, especially during summer vacation. Binh confided: "Children do small jobs, this job is not too much, in return they get money to help their parents." The labor awareness of children in coastal areas like Binh, Duc, Tu... is truly admirable.

An Ngoc