In Hanoi, the highest salary is 42 times more than the average and it is 109 times higher in HCM City, reported the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs on July 25.
The average income of workers in foreign-invested firms is between VND1.2-1.4 million ($70.5-$82.3) per month. That of workers at non-state firms is from VND900,000-VND1.1 million ($53-$64.7) per month. In Hanoi, workers’ average salary is between VND1.5 and VND2 million ($88-117) per month.
According to the Ministry, the gap between the highest salary (VND75.2 million – $4,423) and the average (VND1.8 million – $106) is 42-fold in Hanoi and in HCM City, the gap is 109 times higher (VND240 million or $14,117 compared to VND2.2 million – $129.4).
The Ministry reported that at the above earnings, workers are facing many difficulties, especially workers who do simple jobs at private and foreign-invested firms. They are unable to save any money with their incomes.
Housing and living conditions are big problems for workers in industrial and export processing zones. Vietnam has over 1 millions workers of this kind. Over 70% of workers in industrial and export processing zones in HCM City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Hanoi and Hai Phong are from other provinces. Most of them are living in hired, under-standard rooms and they don’t have access to popular entertainment services like TV, newspapers, etc.
Some companies have built houses for lease but the leasing fees are high so their workers can’t afford them.
It is more difficult for worker families since they can’t find kindergartens for their children.
According to the Vietnam Confederation of Labour, many firms, especially non-state companies, seek every way to avoid buying social insurance for their workers.
In the first half of 2008, 350 strikes were recorded, including 124 in HCM City, 57 in the southern province of Dong Nai, 41 in the southern province of Tay Ninh, 29 in the southern province of Binh Duong, 26 in the southern province of Long An, 24 in the northern coastal city of Hai Phong and 53 in other provinces and cities.
South Korean companies suffered the highest number of strikes, with 79 strikes, followed by Taiwanese firms with 78 and Japanese firms with 52.
There were 277 strikes at foreign-invested companies and 77 at non-state companies.
Some strikes took place for a long time, like in the case of the Hue Phong Footwear Company in HCM City, which lasted for 20 days.
The major reasons for strikes are low salaries, extended working times, poor shift meals, etc.
Do Minh
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