The decrease in the number of orders, and the high cost of raw materials and freight are among the most common difficulties facing many Da Nang-based businesses.

Workers at the Da Nang Forestry Export JSC are making their efforts to complete year-end orders. Photo: Q.TRANG

Lack of orders, reduction of working hours

Mrs. T.T.H, 40, a native of Quang Ngai Province, has been working for a garment company based in the Hoa Khanh Industrial Park in Lien Chieu District for 7 years.

Previously, her job was quite stable and she could earn a monthly income of about VND8-10 million. However, most recently, the company has announced a sharp reduction in orders, so she and many other workers has to cut their working hours although the year-end period is the time when workers most expect to work overtime to earn extra money to return to their hometown to celebrate the upcoming Tet.

Director of the Bac Dau Co., Ltd. Nguyen Van Chin said that, currently, 150 workers of the company had to reduce their working hours due to the lack of raw materials. Workers only work 2-3 days/week, and the rest days are paid 70% of basic salary.

“This is a problem that happens every year. Due to the unfavourable weather conditions, fishermen rarely head out to sea. As a result, the meager source of raw materials is currently mainly purchased by large seafood enterprises, so the company falls into a state of 'hibernation'” Director Chin informed.

The similar problem has been reported at companies operating in the Tho Quang Fisheries Service Industrial Park.

For instance, the Da Nang Seafood Joint Stock Company cuts 30 working hours/week, and the Hai Thanh Co., Ltd 12 hours/week. Meanwhile, the city branch of the Anh Minh Seafood JSC reduces the number of seasonal workers, and the Viet Lang Forest Products Co., Ltd., and the Forest Products Export JSC cuts work on Saturdays and weekday overtime.

Mr. Huynh Trinh, Director of the Forest Products Export JSC, said that his company sees a 50% drop in the number of the orders compared to the same period in November last year. There are only production contracts with partners until March 2023, so the company is actively negotiating to sign new orders.

The Glove and Labour Protection Product Manufacturing Company Limited based in the Da Nang Industrial Park has a number of workers on unpaid leave.

The Huu Nghi Da Nang Commercial Production JSC reduces one working hour/day starting from early November compared to the beginning of 2022, and it plans to give employees a Saturday off.

The Hoa Khanh Textiles JSC stopped production for nearly 2 weeks in October due to the impact of floods. Mrs. Ho Thi Thanh Huong, Head of the Company's Human Resources Department, said that although the company has resumed production, the order numbers are still not abundant, and new contracts for 2023 have not yet been signed.

Workers of the Da Nang Forestry Export JSC are making efforts to complete year-end orders. Photo: Q.TRANG

Side by side with workers

Most recently, the Authority of the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Parks has actively contacted businesses to promptly grasp their difficulties and obstacles and then to timely help them solve their problems.

Chairman of the Trade Union organisation of the Authority Nguyen Thanh Trung remarked, up to now, his unit has built a plan to inspect and supervise the implementation of legal provisions on working conditions and time, and at the same time, strengthen understanding of the situation at the grassroots level, to promptly detect, notify and coordinate with authorities to work with units that owe salaries, insurance debts, identify the possibility of owners fleeing or dissolving, and bankrupt.

The Authority also regularly captures the thoughts and aspirations of trade union members and employees, and widely publicise about Tet care activities for them.

On the other hand, the city’s Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs closely cooperates with the Authority to closely monitor the situation of labour, employment, and labour relations at enterprises, as well as consult and support businesses in cases of any difficulty.

The focus is on promptly solving the pressing and aspirations of the employees, implementing commitments of enterprises to employees, and requiring enterprises to soon announce plans to pay salaries and Tet bonuses for workers.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Minh, Chairman of the city's Confederation of Labour, said that his unit has well worked with the Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs to give active support to workers who have lost their jobs.

Additionally, the city’s Confederation of Labour has issued a plan to take care of Tet for employees, including advising the municipal People's Committee to pay attention to employees who have lost their jobs and have their working hours cut to encourage them to overcome their current difficulties, Mr. Nguyen Duy Minh added.

Reporting by Q.TRANG, M.QUE - Translating by M.DUNG