High demand, but difficult to recruit

(Baonghean) - The demand for labor recruitment in enterprises is very large, but the number of recruitments is still very limited. A paradox is happening that while many enterprises are facing the problem of labor shortage, the situation of underemployment in localities is still very large. The problem of ensuring benefits between enterprises and employees is in need of a satisfactory solution...

As one of the units in need of a large labor force, BSE Electronics Co., Ltd. (located in Nam Cam Industrial Park, Nghi Loc) is struggling to attract workers to work. Mr. Ryu Han Kyoung, the company's planning director, said: To achieve the plan of producing 10 - 15 million products per month, the company's labor demand is very large. This February, the company is trying to recruit about 1,000 more workers, but with the current situation, it is difficult to achieve. The company has worked with the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board and localities to announce the recruitment of more workers, but a number of workers are still tending to go to the South to do business without the desire to stay in their hometown. Many people choose to export labor abroad, so it is very difficult for the company to recruit. Currently, the company has 2,000 workers and after the Tet holiday, all of these workers have gone to work, there is no job hopping or quitting. Currently, the company has completed another factory and is in need of recruiting 5,000 - 6,000 workers so that by 2015, the company will have about 8,000 workers, meeting the company's production activities.

Production line at BSE Electronics Company Limited (Nam Cam Industrial Park, Nghi Loc).

Although not as "thirsty" for labor as other companies, the most difficult problem for Haivina Kim Lien Company Limited (Nam Giang Industrial Park, Nam Dan) is the lack of skilled workers. Currently, the company has nearly 3,000 workers, but in the near future, with the opening of another factory, the company will need 500-1,000 more skilled workers. Mr. Le Thanh Tinh, Head of the company's General Affairs Department, said: Currently, the company still receives applications from workers, 4 days a month. However, the number of skilled workers is still small, so the company can only recruit about 30-40 tailors each month. Previously, workers were mainly from Nam Dan and Hung Nguyen districts, but now many workers from Thanh Chuong districts, Vinh City, and Nghi Loc also come to submit applications. When hiring workers, the company must spend time training workers in basic techniques and industrial style to meet requirements.

For Halotexco Garment Joint Stock Company, this year the situation of workers quitting or changing jobs is less volatile. To retain workers, the company has a bonus policy of the basic salary multiplied by a coefficient of 1.5 plus 500 thousand VND of the general bonus so that workers can have the conditions to celebrate Tet. Therefore, after the company started production on the 6th day of Tet, more than 95% of workers returned to work as usual, about 30 workers asked to quit their jobs. Currently, there are some workers who have returned from working in the South for Tet but did not return and are applying to work at the company. Mr. Le Trong Dai - Director of the company is worried that these workers often have the habit of "standing on this mountain and looking at that mountain", the work is unstable so the company is not interested. Before starting work, the company will train the workers for about 1 month and the company will cover tuition and income support for 3 months. But some workers, after being trained, automatically quit their jobs and move to companies with higher salaries. Halotexco Garment Joint Stock Company has about 600 workers and needs 150-200 workers to keep the production lines running at full capacity. But the number of workers applying for jobs at the company is very small.

Nghe An is considered a province with abundant labor resources with nearly 1.8 million workers, the average number of workers reaching working age to supplement the province's labor force is approximately 30,000 people per year. According to a survey by the provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, in the fourth quarter of 2013, there were about 43 enterprises in the province with a need to recruit about 1,500 workers. In 2014, the labor recruitment demand of enterprises was nearly 2,400 people. In which, mainly concentrated in the garment industry, such as Matrix Vinh Company Limited (500 workers), Minh Anh - Kim Lien Garment Joint Stock Company (500 workers), MLB Tenergy Company Limited (30 workers), Prex Vinh Company Limited (240 workers)... The recruitment demand of enterprises is very large but according to forecasts, many enterprises will fall into a state of worker shortage.

In fact, the labor supply in the province is very large and basically meets the needs of businesses. But why are businesses, especially textile and garment businesses, always in a state of labor shortage? The main reason is that workers' income is currently low. Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen, from Hung Nguyen, has been a worker at Matrix Vinh Company Limited for more than 2 years, but after the recent Tet holiday, she decided to quit to find a new job. The reason is that the income is too low, combined with the holiday and Tet bonus regime being too poor, so it is not enough to take care of the life of a family with 2 young children.

Ms. Huyen said: My basic salary is 1.8 million VND, plus overtime pay and allowances, which is only about 2.5 million VND. My husband is also a worker, and with a small child, I have to rent a room to live, so it is not enough to cover daily expenses. Therefore, I decided to quit my job here to find a new job with a higher income. Sharing the same thought, Ms. Le Thi Tan, from Hung Dong commune (Vinh city), who used to work at Halotexco Garment Joint Stock Company, commented: In terms of income, currently, domestic companies are paying workers much lower than foreign-invested companies. Although foreign-invested companies have stricter requirements, they have benefits such as insurance, Tet bonuses, and maternity benefits, so workers flock there more.

In addition, labor quality is the biggest obstacle for the province. Currently, the rate of trained workers is only 35.7%. Workers with technical expertise are concentrated in some occupations such as motor vehicle repair, driving, garment, civil electricity, electronics, etc., but the rate of trained workers is still very low. Some occupations such as agricultural and forestry processing, aquaculture, and construction materials do not have many workers with basic training. Therefore, it can be said that the professional and vocational qualifications of the labor force in the province are still inadequate, not meeting the requirements of the labor market. Meanwhile, many new industrial projects invested and operating in the province are currently requiring a quality labor source.

On the business side, there needs to be more attention to all aspects of material and spiritual life as well as a harmonious attitude to ensure the interests of all parties. At the same time, businesses must also consider workers as truly valuable assets in the process of production and business development to stabilize production. In addition, businesses that want to meet the labor source also need to provide information on demand so that state agencies and labor units can have reasonable recruitment and training plans. In the coming time, along with the work of promoting the attraction of many projects in the province, functional agencies need to have strong enough policies to encourage the development of the labor market, in order to fully meet the labor demand for large projects; promote vocational training to meet the needs of businesses. In training, it is necessary to pay attention to and orient vocational schools, build and organize the implementation of common output standards for each industry, with specific addresses.

Pham Bang