Workers unhappy with jobs, wages
About 34% of labourers surveyed recently said they were not satisfied with their jobs or pay, a workshop on the subject was heard on August 13.
However, most complainants said they would stay with their present employer because there was no where else to go, according to a survey by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour.
The head of the Institute of Workers and Trade Union's scientific research division, Dang Quang Hop, said 1,600 workers in 60 enterprises were contacted. They operate in the clothing, textiles, footwear, construction, transport, mechanic, electronics and agro-forestry-seafood industries in 10 cities and provinces across the country.
"The survey, carried out in April and May, revealed that labourers were mostly concerned about stable jobs and adequate wages," said Hop.
The survey indicated that workers received an average monthly wage of VND3.8 million (US$176). There are four wage zones. The average monthly wage of workers in zone one is VND4.37 million (US$200), in zone two it is VND3.86 million (US$177), in zone three, VND3.8 million (US$176) and in zone four, VND3.2 million ($145).
Zone 1 covers urban Hanoi and HCM City; Zone 2 covers rural Hanoi and HCM City along with urban Can Tho, Da Nang and Hai Phong cities; Zone 3 applies to provincial cities and the districts of Bac Ninh Province, Bac Giang, Hai Duong, and Vinh Phuc provinces; and Zone 4 takes care of the remaining localities.
The survey also showed that, on average, a labourer spends VND4.25 million a month, including spending on children. Labourers in all four wage zones spend more than what they earn monthly, equal to VND4.9 million for zone 1, VND4.3 million for zone 2, VND3.95 million for zone 3, and VND3.5 million for zone 4.
"Additional incomes come from overtime, allowances, and subsidies. This means the basic salary only makes up from 75 to 80% of their total income," said Hop.
"Therefore, if labourers do not work overtime, their income will certainly go down, which makes their life harder."
In accordance with the survey results, up to 96.9% of labourers asked said they paid social insurance premiums, 95.9% paid health insurance premiums and 94.1% bought unemployment insurance.
Explaining the difference among zones, a representative from the labour confederation said employees in zones one and two where industrial parks were concentrated had to rent accommodation, and pay for electricity, water, and childcare bills. The cost of services and other essential services and food was often seven to 10% higher than in neighbouring areas.
Up to 20 % of labourers said their income was insufficient to live; and more than 31% said they had to tighten their belts. Another 40% said their income was just enough to cover daily living. Only 8% of surveyed labourers said they could save some money.
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour will base on the survey results, with reference to the National Salary Council, and propose the Government adjust the zones' minimum wage in 2016.