The Vietnam Confederation of Trade and Industry (VCCI) said that the situation of employees having to quit their jobs and reduce working hours in the last months of the year is only a local phenomenon and carries industry factors. However, the labor cuts that took place in a number of labor-intensive enterprises such as textiles, garments, footwear, etc., have had a negative effect in the context that the labor market has just recovered from the pandemic. COVID-19. Therefore, keeping jobs for employees is a top priority for businesses to prepare for the market to recover.

Maintain production

Textile is the most labor-intensive industry today. Mr. Le Tien Truong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group, said that not only the Vietnamese textile and garment industry faced difficulties, but also the whole global market, when the world's total demand suddenly decreased due to economic depression.

Besides, in addition to increasingly strict requirements such as: reduced production prices, fast delivery times, higher quality ..., brands also require businesses in the supply chain to comply with many development policies. sustainability, greening, energy saving, emission reduction... "The important solution of the textile and garment industry today is to improve its position in the supply chain, how to serve long-term partners with famous names. Therefore, it is necessary to keep a highly qualified workforce so that when the market recovers, it can meet the requirements," stressed Mr. Truong.

Textile enterprises manage to keep jobs for workers

Enterprises belonging to the Ho Chi Minh City Textile, Garment, Embroidery and Knitting Association (AGTEX) are looking for solutions to maintain production and retain employees with the goal of not letting any employees lose their jobs because of the shortage of orders. Mr. Pham Xuan Hong, Chairman of AGTEX, said that nearly 70% of businesses in the association were affected by orders with a decrease of 20%-30%, mainly export orders. But still about 30% of enterprises have stable orders. "Currently, AGTEX enterprises do not work overtime or even reduce their working hours during the week to maintain production to help workers get jobs. Enterprises in the association are looking for more small orders and production links, to compensate for income for employees. workers," said Mr. Hong.

As for taking care of Tet for employees, the common ground of enterprises in the association is a bonus of 1.5 months of income. In which, some businesses will pay bonuses 1 month before Tet and half a month after Tet. This approach both retains employees and also allows them to have money to spend after Tet because production has not recovered immediately.

As one of the large textile enterprises less affected, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Lan, General Director of Nha Be Garment Joint Stock Corporation, said that despite reducing working hours, Nha Be Garment still maintains the production atmosphere in the factory. . "One is for employees to return to the factory with peace of mind after Tet, the other is to ensure that the factory catches up with production as soon as the market recovers. Moreover, maintaining production will strengthen the confidence of big brands, help them rest assured to order Vietnamese enterprises "- Mr. Lan explained.

Empowering workers

Before the fluctuations of the labor market before Tet, especially after a number of businesses had their orders reduced, they were forced to rearrange working hours or cut workers, the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs (Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs) -TB-XH) Ho Chi Minh City said that it is focusing on reviewing the employment needs of employees, and actively working with many neighboring provinces and cities to prepare to organize job exchange floors before and after the Lunar New Year. 2023 to avoid labor shortage.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Lam, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, in the process of surveying the employment needs of employees, many people have the desire to continue to work and find new jobs, but there are also many people. who do not intend to find a job right away, but wait for Tet. Usually every year, after Tet is a time when labor supply and demand are quite volatile when workers return to the city to look for work, there are also many people who do not return to their old company...

"In order to proactively supply labor, connect job supply and demand proactively, and avoid possible inadequacies that may occur after the Tet holiday, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City will connect with provinces and cities in the form of Online training for businesses and employees to find jobs and recruit smoothly. Thereby, when workers return to the city, they will have jobs immediately," said Mr. Lam.

Ms. Vi Thi Hong Minh, Deputy Director of the Office of Gender Employers VCCI, said that connecting jobs for unemployed workers is a temporary solution, but in the long term, it is necessary to have supportive policies for businesses. retain employees. A survey by VCCI shows that many businesses want to retain employees, but the cost pressure makes businesses "can't afford it".

Therefore, the state needs to have policies with simple procedures, diversify credit sources, loosen conditions for businesses to easily access, and provide financial support for enterprises to maintain their workforce. At the same time, consider exempting and reducing trade union fees, extending social insurance contributions so that enterprises have more resources to maintain production and business activities, as well as keep jobs for employees.