Hoping for a stable place to live
After each shift, many workers in industrial parks in Ninh Binh return to cramped, damp rented rooms. For them, affordable social housing is not only a place to live but also a support to feel secure in working and sticking with the business for a long time.
In fact, most workers in industrial zones and clusters are people from other provinces, who have to rent rooms near their workplaces. Rent, electricity, water, and living expenses account for a significant income; for young families with young children, the pressure is even greater when they both worry about rent and study and live.
More than 8 years working as workers at ADORA Vietnam Footwear Co., Ltd. (Tam Diep Industrial Park, Ninh Binh), Mr. Nguyen Hong Quan and his wife (from Nghe An) said that with their current income, buying land and building houses is impossible. Every month, rent and living expenses almost cost one person's salary, and the rest is sent back to their hometown to raise their children to study, so there is almost no savings.
Mr. Quan wishes to access social housing projects with reasonable prices, clear procedures, and convenient locations; projects need to be implemented on schedule, publicly and transparently so that workers have access to them.
Many workers share that after many years of working, their savings are still modest. Therefore, without social housing policies, the dream of settling down in urban areas or near industrial parks is still far away. An affordable apartment with essential infrastructure, schools, markets, and nearby healthcare is a practical desire of a large number of workers.
Retaining workers with housing policies
Housing for workers is not only a social security issue but also an important factor in sustainable industrial development. When there is stable housing, workers are assured to work and stick with it for a long time; conversely, precarious lives will affect the company's ability to retain workers.
Over the past time, Ninh Binh has paid attention to developing social housing, housing for workers and low-income people. Some projects have been and are being implemented, contributing to increasing the housing supply for workers.
Mr. Chu Duc Long - Deputy Director of Ninh Binh Provincial Department of Construction informed that Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee has approved the adjustment of the Ninh Binh Provincial Housing Development Program for the period 2021 - 2030. Accordingly, Ninh Binh province sets a target to meet the total demand of 98,304 units for groups eligible for social housing support policies in the province.
For worker dormitories for rent, Ninh Binh province sets a target to complete about 17,329 units by 2030. However, for this goal to become a reality, the synchronous involvement of the government, the construction industry, trade union organizations, businesses and investors is needed.
In which, the government needs to soon concretize the land fund, project list, preferential mechanisms and implementation roadmap. The Trade Union organization needs to continue to grasp the needs of union members and workers to propose policies that are close to reality. Businesses also need to accompany, because taking care of workers' housing is investing in stable human resources.
Social housing only really works when it comes with appropriate loan policies, long repayment periods, stable interest rates and convenient registration procedures. If the selling price exceeds the affordability, or the dossier is too complicated, workers will still find it difficult to "touch" the dream apartment" - Mr. Long shared.
