Leaving the fields, entering the factory
At the end of the afternoon shift, in the agricultural product processing workshop in Mai Son (Son La), Mr. Vang A Chu, a H'Mong person, carefully cleans the machinery before leaving the shift. Few people know that a few years ago, his life was still closely linked to corn fields on the mountainside, income was precarious, "good harvest is enough to eat, bad harvest is worrying about every meal".
Farming depends entirely on the weather. Since I learned the elementary craft of processing agricultural products and then started working at the workshop, I have an income of more than 7 million VND per month. The most important thing is that I can work near my house, not have to go far, and still take care of my family" - Mr. Chu shared.
Mr. Chu's story is no longer isolated. In many Northwest provinces such as Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, more and more ethnic minority workers are leaving self-sufficient production to participate in new economic models, working in factories and production workshops.
However, the biggest barrier for them is still lack of skills and labor skills, causing many people, even though they have jobs, to have unstable incomes and find it difficult to stick with them for a long time.
At Tang Loong industrial cluster, Ms. Thao Thi De, a Dao garment worker, recalled her early days at work with many unfamiliarities. After being supported by businesses and trade unions to train and improve her skills, Ms. De can do more stages, and her income has clearly improved.
Having a profession in hand is enough to be assured to stick with it for a long time. If you don't learn the profession, it will be very difficult to stay at the factory" - Ms. De shared.
According to Ms. De, the biggest desire of ethnic minority workers is to learn a trade right in their locality, suitable for the level and conditions of the highlands. Not everyone has the conditions to go down to the lowlands to study for long days. If training classes are opened in the commune, associated with specific jobs, people will participate more.
Reality shows that if vocational training is not linked to market demand and job output, workers in mountainous areas are very likely to abandon it halfway.
Expecting career change to escape poverty
At the Phong Tho border (Lai Chau), Mr. Ly A Pao, a Ha Nhi person, currently working as a worker at a construction material processing enterprise, frankly shared: "If you only do farming, it is very difficult to escape poverty. But working as a worker without a profession means only doing heavy work with low income.
Mr. Pao hopes to learn more about mechanical engineering and machine operation to be able to stick with businesses for a long time. "Highland youth are not afraid to learn, not afraid to work, but lack opportunities to access appropriate vocational training. We hope the State will pay more attention so that young people can work right in their hometowns" - Mr. Pao expressed.
For workers in mountainous areas, sustainable poverty reduction is not only about increasing immediate income, but also having a stable job, insurance, and a long-term future.
Ms. Lo Thi Trang, a seasonal worker working at an agricultural product processing factory in Tram Tau (Lao Cai), hopes that the Party, State, and Government will continue to put the issue of developing human resources in ethnic minority areas as a long-term task.
To industrialize mountainous areas, first of all, it is necessary to train local workers. Businesses coming here to invest without skilled labor are very difficult to develop. I hope the State will pay more attention to vocational training for ethnic minority female workers, especially suitable jobs so that women can stick with them for a long time, both have income and take care of their families" - Ms. Trang expressed.
Ms. Dinh Thi Hong Lan - Deputy Head of the Trade Union of Industrial Parks of Lao Cai province - said that caring for workers is not only to support them in difficult times, but also to help them improve their skills, have a profession to rise up on their own. That is the sustainable poverty reduction method.
For workers in mountainous areas, the most important thing is that vocational training must be suitable for the level, flexible time, and not interrupt jobs. Trade unions will play a bridge role for businesses, training institutions and workers to meet in the common point of mutual benefit" - Ms. Dinh Thi Hong Lan shared.
