Earning millions of VND because the demand for repairing and completing houses skyrockets
Recorded in many localities, the time before Tet is the biggest "business season" of the year for construction and house repair teams. The need to renovate and repair houses, install doors, railings, canopies, reinforce works... increases sharply when people want to complete living space to welcome Tet.
Jobs such as plastering, tiling, welding iron, aluminum and glass often have to be done urgently, with short schedules, making homeowners willing to pay higher wages than usual to "keep" workers. Many teams of workers said that the work schedule is tight from morning to night, even having to refuse some work because there is not enough manpower.
Mr. Vu Cao Cuong (Chuong My ward, Hanoi) is a long-time aluminum and glass worker. According to Mr. Cuong, on days during the year, he and his team of workers, a group of brothers in the same residential cluster, work about 22 days/month, earning 14-15 million VND. In just a few months near Tet, the group of workers works from 7 am to 10 pm, some people earn more than 30 million VND/month.
My group has 9 people, these days we are divided into 3 clusters, even 4 clusters to solve the projects that have been received and are still outstanding. We work in the style of "eating quickly, sleeping urgently". We often have lunch at 2 pm, dinner at 11 pm. It's hard but everyone tries their best because there is only 1 peak season each year, and income is high, so everyone has more motivation," Mr. Cuong said.
Also according to Mr. Cuong, the average worker's salary per day can be up to 1 million VND/person. If they are healthy and work overtime, some people earn 1.3 - 1.5 million VND/day.
Also "running shows" and not finishing work during Tet is the group of construction workers of Mr. Cao Van Long (Minh Tan commune, Ninh Binh). Mr. Long said that his group has 7 workers, from the same hometown who came to Hanoi to work as construction workers for more than 10 years, currently renting a boarding house in Dinh Cong ward (Hanoi). Because they are familiar with many customers, Mr. Long's group almost does not have to look for work but is always introduced to new customers by old customers.
Near Tet, the demand for house completion is very high, we are divided into 2 groups, we can't finish the work. Some places need it urgently, willing to pay a daily wage that is one and a half to two times higher than the general level. We work hard but have millions of VND in income every day, so everyone is excited," Mr. Long said.
According to Mr. Long, on peak days near Tet, the wages of seasonal workers with skilled skills increase by 30–50% compared to normal days. An experienced bricklayer, doing contract work according to small projects, can receive an income of 1-1.4 million VND/day. For high-tech jobs such as welding, aluminum and glass, the income can be up to 1.5–2 million VND/day if they work full shifts, full jobs.
In particular, "multi-talented" workers, who can both weld and install aluminum and glass, rolling doors, roofs... are always in a sought-after position. Many homeowners accept paying extra money outside the initial agreement so that workers prioritize doing it early and on schedule before Tet.
Temporary technical labor is increasingly scarce
Mr. Le Quang Trung - former Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Employment, said that although the demand is high, the supply of skilled labor in the construction and civil mechanical industries is not abundant. In recent years, the young labor force is less interested in traditional crafts, while older workers are gradually withdrawing from the market due to health reasons. In addition, many skilled workers have switched to stable jobs at enterprises, industrial parks or providing services under long-term contracts, causing the freelance labor market to lack human resources at peak times such as the end of the year.
Mr. Trung also warned that high income in the short term is a great attraction for seasonal workers, but comes with many risks.
“Most bricklayers, welders, and aluminum and glass workers work freelance, without labor contracts, without accident insurance or social insurance. In the process of working, the risk of labor accidents is always present, especially when having to work urgently, working at night to keep up with the schedule. In addition, the seasonality also makes income unstable. After Tet, the demand for construction and repair decreases sharply, many workers fall into a situation of job shortage, having to wait or look for jobs in other fields. High income during Tet is therefore only "compensation" for periods of precarious employment in the year,” Mr. Trung said.
Mr. Vu Quang Thanh - Deputy Director of the Hanoi Employment Service Center said that seasonal workers are "bustling for jobs" during Tet, which more clearly reflects a long-term problem of the labor market: a shortage of skilled labor. While society increasingly values qualifications, skilled workers and direct technical workers are increasingly less likely to study systematically.
If there are no policies to train, attract and retain skilled workers, the shortage of workers in the construction and civil mechanical industries will continue, not only during Tet but also in daily economic activities," Mr. Thanh said.
