Since the beginning of 2023, nearly 510,000 Vietnamese workers have encountered employment challenges, of which 280,000 have lost their jobs.
Since the beginning of 2023, nearly 510,000 Vietnamese workers have encountered employment challenges due to a lack of market, raw material supply, reduced production scale, and workforce reduction. Out of this number, approximately 280,000 individuals have lost their jobs. This was reported by Mr. Dao Ngoc Dung, Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, during the question and answer session at the National Assembly's fifth plenary session on June 6.
A joint survey conducted by Oxfam and SANTA in 2023, involving over 330 employees, revealed that 77% of the respondents required support in terms of job search and training for new employment opportunities. Moreover, around 68% of the respondents have 1 to 5 dependents, and 83% expressed their willingness to remain in the industry for a long duration if suitable employment opportunities were available.
A discussion held on June 16, in collaboration with Vietnam Investment Review newspaper, involved representatives from various organizations including the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the International Labor Organization (ILO), Hanoi Tourism College, SANTA Recruitment and Employment Consultant, and Oxfam in Vietnam. They unanimously emphasized the importance of job transition in the post-COVID-19 pandemic economy.
Ms. Nguyen Thu Huong, Senior Program Manager at Oxfam in Vietnam, provided several recommendations during the discussion:
- It calls for close collaboration between workers, vocational training institutions, enterprises, and the government to ensure that the quantity and quality of vocational training align with enterprise demands and economic changes.
- Review and adjust Vietnam's vocational training strategy in line with the development of the green economy, circular economy, and Industry 4.0. This should include specific goals and measurable guidelines, such as the number of trained individuals employed in their respective fields and their wages.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of vocational training institutions funded by the state budget based on the number of trained workers who secure employment in their respective sectors. Only effective training institutions should receive budget allocations.
- Reform the wage policy to ensure a living wage that allows workers to invest in their own education, career development, and that of their children, who represent the future workforce. This will contribute to a skilled workforce capable of meeting the labor market's needs.
During the seminar, participants discussed not only the upcoming opportunities and challenges in the job market but also proposed practical solutions for employees, such as transitioning to the tourism industry, to maintain a flexible and sustainable workforce.
