Workers at
industrial parks in the central province of Nghe An are tightening their belts
to cover rising living costs amid low wages.
Low pay forces
worker to consume low-quality food
Confined indoors
During daytime, the guest-houses round the Bac Vinh industrial park in
Nghe An’s Vinh City are almost empty. The majority of workers are busy working,
the only sign of life are the few workers relaxing in preparation for their
night shift.
Most of these workers are consigned to doing long shifts and overtime,
yet are still compelled to share poorly-furnished rooms measuring some 10
square metres.
“I can earn VND2.3 million (USD111.6) a month, including overtime
working. I have to pay VND400,000 (USD19.4) per month for my room even though I
only spend nights at home as I spend almost all my time at the factory,” said
Phuong, a worker.
Frugal meals
Work shifts at industrial parks run for 10 to 12 hours per day, with
most workers only earning between VND1.7 million VND2.3 million
(USD82.4-USD111.6) per month. Only a lucky few take VND2.5 million (USD121.2).
With low pay, these workers find it hard to cover the increasing cost
of living. They have no other choice but tighten their belts by having frugal
meals.
Vegetables, tofu and eggs have become regular sights at meals. They
rarely can afford to buy pork or beef.
“I often have to resort to eating only vegetables in the final days of
the month as I often run out of money,” another worker named Lan said.
Ngoc, a worker for the Matrix Company only ate vegetables during her
two-month apprenticeship. An experience that left her pale and skinny, Lan
noted.
Personal lives
affected
With little time off, the workers rarely get a chance to follow the
news. Phuong’s guest-house block has only one TV but a few people bother
watching it, preferring to sleep and prepare for the next shift.
Thai Thi Minh shared, “We spend most of our time at the factories and
have no time to read or watch TV.”
With no other entertainment, some male workers opt to play cards during
their breaks, gambling with the little money they do earn.
The air of malaise is troubling for some. Nguyen Van Tinh, a worker at
the Hung Hung Woodwork Company, has turned 31 but has not considered getting
married. Tinh earns around VND3 million (USD145.5) per month. He worries that
his income will be insufficient to support a family.
“The work is potentially unstable. We may lose our job at any time. Men
are reluctant to get married, so we’re compelled to let things just run their
course,” Hoang Thi Binh said.
Kien’s family face more economic difficulties since his wife, Hien,
gave birth to their first child. When Hien resumed working after her four-month
maternal leave, Kien had to ask his mother to live with them to take care of
their baby. They found it hard to cover the living costs of four people. The
milk for their baby accounted for a third of their income alone.
With no respite from the mind-numbing tedium, Kien’s mother became
bored with life at the industrial park and Hien had no other choice but to let
Kien’s mother take their baby back home with her. Hien said, “I have to set
aside VND1 million (USD48.5) per month to feed our baby.”
Frugal meals
Vegetables become main courses
Modest wages mean careful budgeting
Guest-houses almost empty during the day
A life indoors
Source: Dtinews
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