Labor shortage in 2 important construction packages
Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) recently reported to Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc and relevant ministries on the implementation of component project 3 of the Long Thanh International Airport Construction Investment Project phase 1 (abbreviated as Long Thanh airport).
According to ACV, the component project 3 of Long Thanh airport to date assesses overall progress, completing the technical operation target in September 2026 and organizing commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2026 is feasible. However, the project is facing difficulties that need to be resolved soon.
Currently, in the context of many key infrastructure projects being implemented simultaneously, the demand for construction labor is increasing nationwide, especially in the Dong Nai area, with many key infrastructure projects such as: Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway project, Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh expressway expansion project, other technical infrastructure projects and other component projects under the Long Thanh International Airport Project.
In addition, construction and living conditions at the construction site and the Long Thanh airport project area are still difficult; the construction site is large, many items are deployed outdoors, affected by hot sun and dust, leading to difficulties in attracting and maintaining the labor force. In fact, a situation has arisen where some technical staff and workers quit their jobs, abandoned their jobs halfway, and switched to other projects.
Although ACV has drastically urged construction units to strengthen the mobilization of additional human resources, by April 14, the total number of human resources mobilized at the construction site had only reached about 8,457 people (reaching 60% of the required workforce), while the demand to ensure progress according to the plan is about 14,000 people.
In particular, the mobilization of insufficient labor at bidding packages on the road ahead, such as:
Package 5.10 (passenger terminal) in recent days, the number of workers mobilized by contractors has increased to about 3,400 personnel (the demand is about 6,000 personnel for construction and installation items, equipment installation). This package started construction in July 2023, and has basically completed the reinforced concrete structure, steel roof, glass wall elevation and is installing systems inside the passenger terminal.
Package No. 4. 8 (port infrastructure, transportation) the number of personnel at the construction site each day is about 1,200 personnel (needed to be about 1,900 personnel). Package 4. 8 started on October 30, 2024 with a contract value of more than 11,066 billion VND.
Risk of delay
In addition, the shortage of personnel of design consultants and supervision consultants at some bidding packages causes difficulties in internal work, quality management, and affects the general payment process of the project.
Also according to ACV, in the current peak period, the shortage of supply and increased prices of raw materials such as asphalt concrete, cement, steel... may cause the risk of delays, even interruptions of some construction items due to machinery without fuel and raw materials to deploy construction. ACV has sent a document to the People's Committee of Dong Nai province to support the supply of fuel for the project.
In addition, some units supplying equipment for the project lack legal entities and legal representatives, leading to interruptions in the import of equipment to serve construction installation, slowing down the progress of major packages such as packages 5.10 and 4.12 (delayed by about 3 months). Especially, in the installation and trial run of equipment.
To remove this difficulty, ACV has worked with contractors to clarify each content and each dossier to remove obstacles.
