Vegetable prices escalate, workers tighten spending
At markets around industrial parks in Vinh Long, prices of fresh vegetables and food are continuously increasing, creating great pressure on workers' daily meals.
A bunch of water spinach used to cost only 5,000 - 7,000 VND but now it costs 12,000 - 15,000 VND/ bunch (0.5kg), the saw and senders cost from 40,000 - 50,000 VND per sent to 70,000 - 80,000 VND/kg, making it even more difficult for workers to balance their living expenses.
A seller at a spontaneous market near Hoa Phu Industrial Park said that the main cause was prolonged rain and flooding, which damaged many vegetable fields and caused a sharp decrease in output. Many fields have to be harvested early due to rotting, leading to limited supply and forced increase in selling prices.
Ms. Le Cam Thuy - a garment worker in Hoa Phu Industrial Park - said that she and her husband earn more than 15 million VND/month, but after deducting rent, electricity and water and sending them back to their hometown for their elderly parents and two children, the remaining amount of money for living expenses is very limited.
When vegetables increase in price, you have to calculate each meal. Cheap vegetables have now increased by 3-4 times, making monthly savings almost gone and family meals become less crowded.
"Previously, meals often had water spinach, cabbage, lettuce with a few dishes of meat and fish, full of nutrients. Now, when vegetables have increased sharply in price, meals are mainly cheap vegetables, cooked simply, limited in quantity, making meals less abundant and having to carefully calculate each vegetable dish," Ms. Thuy added.
Mr. Tran Chi Thanh - a worker at an electromechanical company in Vinh Long - was also under similar pressure. The sharp increase in vegetables, tubers, lettuce, and carrots has caused his family's meals to now have to calculate carefully for each penny, and their standard of living has been clearly affected.
"My wife and I have to tighten our spending to the maximum, limit weekend coffee and buy things that are not essential. The only goal is to ensure enough deposit to return to the countryside and not have a shortfall in small accumulation," said Mr. Thanh.
Tighten market management to stabilize vegetable prices
In the face of rising vegetable prices, directly affecting workers' lives, the Department of Industry and Trade of Vinh Long province has implemented many solutions to control and stabilize the market for vegetables and essential foods.
Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan - Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Vinh Long province - said that the Department is tightening the inspection of supply sources and monitoring points of sale in the area, in order to prevent hoarding, unreasonable price increases, and ensure stable supply.
Interdisciplinary inspection teams regularly review, handle violations and closely monitor price developments from the production stage to final distribution. This is an important step to ensure a stable source of goods, reducing spending pressure for workers.
In addition, the Department of Industry and Trade of Vinh Long also coordinates with supermarkets and large stores to supply essential goods such as rice, eggs, meat and basic vegetables at controlled prices. The goal is to help workers access reasonable food.
Mr. Tuan emphasized that stabilizing supply and controlling prices is to help reduce the number of workers and laborers' meals and save small savings, while maintaining a reasonable standard of living for workers in the face of rapid price fluctuations.
