At present, HCM City’s industrial parks and export processing zones have a shortfall of around 135,000 workers, down 54% before October 1, said Pham Duc Hai, deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.
Large numbers of migrant workers have returned home after the city’s loosened Covid-19 prevention and control restrictions
Enterprises are seeking to recruit new workers, Hai added.
According to Hai, before October 1, local industrial parks and export processing zones had roughly 288,000 workers, including 70,000 staying at work. However, after that, the number staying at work fell to 45,000.
The same situation has been seen at Saigon Hi-tech Park.
Nguyen Quang Lam, deputy director of the city’s Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that businesses in HCM City would need 43,600 – 58,800 workers in the third quarter of this year and the figure would rise to 56,000 in the fourth quarter. However, the current numbers would meet only 90-92% of demand.
Over the past three days, around 5,279 companies in HCM City have registered to resume operations. Many others are preparing for operation again.
Migrant workers are advised to stay in the city as the pandemic has basically been brought under control. Many local companies are adopting measures to take their migrant workers back.
Businesses have sent messages to workers who have returned home to encourage them to come to work.
Le Minh Tan, director of the city’s Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that the agency had instructed the municipal Job Centre of Employee Service to open more online recruitment programmes to help connect candidates and local businesses.
By October 15, the city is expected to finish the first phase of the support package for around 7.3 million people affected by Covid-19.
