- Labor shortage and pollution facing Mekong Delta

Saturday, March 29, 2008

- Labor shortage and pollution facing Mekong Delta

Environmental pollution and a labor shortage are the two challenges currently facing the export processing zones (EPZs) and industrial zones (IZs) in the Mekong Delta region.
This conclusion was drawn at a symposium on Friday entitled “Developing EPZs, IZs in the Mekong Delta: Prospects and Challenges” held in the southern province of Long An.Delegates listened to more than 50 reports and speeches delivered by managers, scientists and researchers who are knowledgeable about the practical features of the Mekong Delta region.The majority of the speakers agreed that the labor shortage and the environmental pollution created by EPZs and IZs have reached alarming levels. One report noted that only 21 out of the 113 EPZs and IZs have a waste water treatment system in place. The region has approximately 85,000 industrial manufacturing units, employing around 300,000 laborers. Meanwhile, the rate of students attending vocational training classes in the Mekong Delta is the lowest when compared to other localities in the country.At the moment, only 17 percent of laborers are appropriately qualified while 83 percent of laborers have yet to be trained.

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.