For them, hot weather is not a choice to avoid, because behind it is the burden of food and family life.
From early morning, Ms. Kieu Thi Thuy (52 years old, Ung Hoa commune, Hanoi City) was busy preparing tools to go to work as a hired laborer. Her job is not fixed, she does whatever anyone hires her to do, from loading and unloading, cleaning to being a construction worker, weeding... as long as there is work, she takes it.
Amidst days when the outdoor temperature at many times exceeds 40 degrees Celsius, Ms. Thuy still regularly works 8 hours a day in the sun. Dark skin, along with calloused hands are traces of many years of hard work.
I know it's hot, tiring and stressful. Some days working outdoors, I get hot and sweaty, I just want to find a place to avoid the sun and rest for a while. But as soon as someone calls me to hire me, I go to work immediately, I don't dare to quit because taking a day off costs money, I don't have money to spend," Ms. Thuy said.
An income of about 7 million VND per month is not a large number in the expensive city, but for her, it is the main source of livelihood to take care of her family. Therefore, despite the harsh heat, she still tries to stick to work.
Many days after work, when she returns home, her clothes are soaked with sweat, her face is red from the scorching sun. Hasty meals, a few short breaks in the shade become a rare time to regain strength before continuing the cycle of making a living.
There are days when I'm too tired, I just drink a bottle of water and continue working. If I quit, I lose my job, and if I lose my job, I don't have money to cover living expenses," Ms. Thuy shared.
Not only freelancers, environmental sanitation workers are also working hard in the hot weather.
Near noon, on many streets in Hanoi, Ms. Ngo Thi Luyen (61 years old, Thuy Ung village, Hoa Binh commune, Hanoi city) is still diligently sweeping under the scorching sun.
16 years attached to the environmental sanitation profession, Ms. Luyen is used to working two shifts, morning and evening, about 8 hours each day. However, each summer is still the most stressful time.
The weather is hot and humid, so working is very tiring. Sometimes when I'm sweeping, I get dizzy because of the heat, but I still have to try to finish the work," she confided.
An income of about 9 million VND per month helps her cover living expenses, but in return, she works continuously outdoors. In the scorching heat, her "food source" is just a few bottles of filtered water she carries with her.
Quick snips of water at the foot of a roadside tree, a faded sweat cloth, or slow steps after many hours standing in the sun... are familiar images of workers making a living in the middle of Hanoi summer.
Behind the hustle and bustle of clean and beautiful streets or everyday tasks are the hardships of workers.
They do not have air conditioning to avoid the heat, and do not have the option to rest when the weather is harsh. The only thing that helps them continue to work is worrying about food and clothing and responsibility to their families.
