What is International Labor Day anyway?
(Baonghean)Back in school, I sometimes wondered why it was called International Labor Day but we got a day off? It was a strange and contradictory name, but as a student, I was happy to have a day off, so I didn't dwell on it too much. Actually, everyone feels conflicted between what they want to do and what they have to do. But ultimately, they still had to reluctantly follow the call of duty. Going to school instead of playing marbles, hopscotch, or other boring games!
As I grew older, I realized that adults aren't much better than children. There are plenty of people who, even while sitting in their offices, have their minds wandering to bars, spas, and shops. The difference is that adults are more reckless and more easily tempted. Proof of this is that before the end of the workday, many people are already checking in at badminton courts, tennis courts, markets, or, less healthily, pubs and restaurants. And ironically, it seems their real "workday" is just beginning, after a day of aimlessly wasting time at their desks. Later, with the development of technology and advancements in leisure activities, someone invented a very sophisticated way to allow people to play while sitting at their desks: computers and the internet. My older sister was once left red-faced when her daughter walked into the room right when she was busy playing a game of Line 98, even though just 30 minutes earlier she had told her not to disturb her while she worked on her year-end report...
Another paradoxical aspect of the labor market is the imbalance between labor supply and demand. Why the contradiction? Because there's both a surplus and a shortage. Large cities have an oversupply of labor, while smaller provinces suffer from a severe shortage. The shortage here is of skilled labor. Speaking of quality, while everyone is rushing to work abroad (legally and illegally), no one seems to be thinking about improving the skills of skilled craftspeople to increase wages right here in Vietnam. Meanwhile, abroad, almost anything related to "handicrafts" is incredibly expensive. But the high price is justified because their skills are superior, and they perform tasks requiring sensitivity and precision that machines cannot replace. That being said, Vietnam also has many exquisite crafts, but unfortunately, they mainly attract foreigners. This makes us reflect on whether our own people truly appreciate and value our labor.
As I just said, upon reflection, it's quite contradictory! Finding a job now is like searching for a needle in a haystack—that's what many young people who have just graduated from university lament to me. A stable job with a monthly salary of five to seven million dong is now a luxury dream for many. Isn't that strange? Is labor so cheap these days? Should we question society with its inadequate compensation systems or the workers themselves for their lack of quality? Ultimately, the problem lies with society. Because the low skill level of the workforce is due to problems in the training process. A society that is developing and expanding in all aspects, yet still fails to create enough jobs for its workers, is like a reservoir with ever-increasing capacity but a tap that only releases a trickle of water like filtered coffee.
In conclusion, any issue related to labor inevitably brings to mind a child forced to grow up prematurely. Because those workers who are tempted and distracted from their responsibilities and duties are like overgrown, thoughtless children. Those with low skill levels are like children burdened with excessively heavy responsibilities. In short, society would be full of children, because society itself is an immature child, or rather, one whose spirit hasn't yet matured to match its physical form. This means that to truly grow, one needs to develop both intellect and thought, not just build a material foundation. Only when we achieve this will we truly understand the value of International Labor Day!
Hai Trieu
Email from Paris
