Home guards and helpers earn increased fees if they are willing to work during Tet.
Tet brings higher prices for home help
The price for house help for Tet has skyrocketed this year to between VND300,000-500,000 (USD14-24) per day, while the price for security guards is VND80,000-200,000(USD4-9) per hour.
Doan Lien in Hanoi's Hai Ba Trung District said her family have a housemaid who had plans to return home for Tet holiday so she had to find extra help for those days. "Normally I pay fees to the helper, which is around VND300,000 per day, but since we have children the price is VND400,000 per day."
Prices differ depending on the owners' requests and can be as high as VND500,000 per day. Many families who host Tet gatherings require such services. Lien said, "I just want a helper for seven days, but the agency said that I have to hire for at least 10 days. They also said that if I don't decide soon they may not be able to fulfill my request."
In the same situation, Nguyen Thanh Huong on Lang Ha Street has also been in search of a helper for Tet. Her normal help has also returned for the holiday. She said that the wages she must pay for ten days is VND5 million.
Perfect Viet Company, located on Dinh Cong Street, said that companies often ask for a deposit before they send a helper to the house. The wages must be discussed wages with the individual helper.
"People who need help should find it before the 24th or 25th of Lunar December because it's almost impossible to find skilled helpers after 27th," a Perfect Viet's employee said.
Many other agencies also ask for deposits and higher rates for Tet.
Security guards on the short
Quang, an employee of a guard services company in O Cho Dua Ward said the prices are VND150,000-200,000 per hour, the same as last year. However, the company will give priority to customers with long-term contracts because they don't have enough manpower this time.
Although the Truong Son Hanoi Security Company has 400 employee, all have already been assigned jobs. They also found it hard to find people willing to work during Tet. "We are trying to find extra guards, but the price might be as high as VND8 million for 10 days."
A monthly contract is normally around VND12 million, but most agencies charge VND800,000-2 million per day during Tet.
The Global Security Service Company has doubled their price to VND2 million per day. They also plan on rotating their personnel. The company said that this year's price is lower than last year.
