Peel the shrimp

(Baonghean) -The shrimp farming profession has existed 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 present at the facility specializing 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 strenuous, and the work is also stable. My group of 10 people peels shrimp for 3 establishments in the commune, and 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 cleanly, boil the shrimp evenly, and do not stir it with your hands when drying it in the sun... As for the children, they take advantage of the free time to do it. 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 and 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 and owners 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 puts away his school bag and goes to the shrimp-peeling boss's house. A big basket of shrimp, in a flash Binh has finished peeling, then spread it out on a tray to dry. This job has become familiar to him since he was 8 years old. Binh's family has 5 people, including his parents and two older sisters. His father goes to sea, his mother and two older sisters both do business at Dien Ngoc fishing port and work as shrimp peelers, earning a good income. Every day is the same, at 5am, Hong (Binh's mother) wakes up to cook rice, the whole family has breakfast, Binh goes to school, his mother and two older sisters go to peel shrimp, from 7am to 11am. In the afternoon from 2pm to 5pm, in the evening they don't peel shrimp but pack dried squid, classify squid. The average income per person is nearly 5 million VND/month. Binh is proficient from washing shrimp to boiling shrimp and peeling shrimp to packaging. Binh's hands are 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 only 3-4 hours a day peeling shrimp can earn 70,000 to 100,000 VND. The largest number of workers are still female, while children like Binh only do it in their free time, especially during summer vacation. Binh confided: "Children do small jobs, this job is not too much, in return they can help their parents with money". The labor awareness of children in coastal areas like Binh, Duc, Tu... is truly admirable.

An Ngoc