After work hours, the familiar image in An Nghiep Industrial Park (Soc Trang province) is workers rushing to visit the roadside ticket markets to buy the cheapest food for dinner.
Female worker Lam Thi Han shared: Previously, every market was full of meat fish. Now, every item has increased rapidly. Pork has nearly reached the 200,000 VND/kg mark, an increase of 20,000 - 30,000 VND compared to before Tet. Green vegetables also increased from 6,000 to 10,000 VND/fruit, which made me have to calculate more carefully. Due to the price storm, the family's meals are getting worse. The meat fish is gradually being replaced with green vegetables and tofu to save costs".
Ms. Han said that she and her husband came from Ca Mau to Soc Trang to start a business, working as seasonal workers at an seafood company. Income is about 10 million VND/month if the goods are abundant. With that amount of money, she has to cover food, accommodation, electricity, water and tuition for her children.
"Renting a house for 1 million VND/month excluding electricity and water. The couple bought sticky rice and fried spring rolls to eat temporarily and then went to the factory to work. I have to save as much as I can, buying something that is really necessary. With a limited income, I had to send my child to my younger brother to support to reduce the burden," Ms. Han confided.
To cope with the escalating price situation, many workers have to accept buying goods at the roadside market, even though they know that hygiene is not guaranteed, just because the prices here are "softer".
Female worker Tang Thi Tien shared: "The meals of low-income workers only have salty dishes with soup or boiled vegetables. When I go to the market, I only choose to buy the cheapest things without paying attention to nutrients".
Ms. Tien said that with an income of 7 million VND/month, she has to worry about diapers, milk for her young child under 1 year old and all other expenses in the family because her husband is currently unemployed.
In the same situation, Mr. Ly Truong Giang and his wife - workers at an seafood company in My Xuyen district - said that each month they spend more than 1 million VND on rent. Eating and drinking for daily life also cost nearly 4 million VND.
"Previously, my husband and I earned more than 10 million VND/month to cover our expenses, but now the prices of all items have increased, making the family much more struggling. To cover enough expenses, I have to divide the money to keep separately. At noon, there are companies that are worried, at night they only dare to buy vegetables, eggs or fish sold along the way to cook. We have to save a lot to have enough money to go home to send our two children to school, sick leave and party money, Giang shared.
For workers in more difficult circumstances, the burden becomes even heavier. Ms. Ngo Thi Thuy Huong, a garment worker, said that if she works overtime, she earns about 6 million VND/month but has to take care of her family because her husband is currently unemployed. "I was able to work with a company car to pick me up and support me with a lunch. The rest is spent. Previously, there was a surplus of about 1 million VND per month. Since consumer prices have increased, the amount of savings has gradually decreased, and there are months when there is no money left," Ms. Huong shared.
