“Building Tet” 2023 for 12,000 construction workers.

In the last months of the year, taking care of Tet for workers is always a major concern for businesses. Especially, this Tet is eagerly awaited by workers after 2 years of the Covid-19 pandemic…

Construction workers, labor force not being adequately cared for.

The years 2020 – 2021 were two years in which the construction industry was heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, under the widespread impact of the disease, the activities of many businesses came to a halt, workers were left unemployed, and the labor force returned to their hometowns. Decision No. 23/2021/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister and Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP of the Government were issued to support workers and employers facing difficulties due to the impact of the pandemic, and they have received support from many businesses nationwide.

Need to pay more attention to construction workers.

It is not by chance that many composers have written songs to praise the construction industry in general and its workers in particular. For example, there are “The Construction Song” by composer Hoang Van, “The Stars of the Night” by composer Phan Huynh Dieu, “The Hands of Construction Workers” by Chau Duc Khanh, “Singing about Construction Workers” by Ho Huu Thoi… However, only the spiritual aspect through these songs is not enough.

According to the General Statistics Office, as of the third quarter of 2022, the total number of laborers (aged 15 and above) nationwide is estimated to reach approximately 52 million people, accounting for about 68.2% of the population. Among them, the number of construction workers accounts for nearly 13.5%, reaching about 7 million people. Although they make up a relatively small proportion of the total labor force, the contribution of construction workers to the economy is significant.

According to Mr. Pham Anh Thang, Deputy Head of the Office of the Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs, Head of the Ministry’s Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City, although they account for a small proportion, the construction force has made significant contributions to society. Due to the nature of the construction industry in Vietnam, it heavily relies on the workforce for construction, which is the construction workers themselves. This workforce is responsible for the majority of construction work in projects, which requires a high level of physical health and skills.

Also according to Mr. Thang, the average income of workers nationwide is around 7.6 million VND per month in the third quarter of 2022. In the industrial – construction sector, the wages of workers in the Southeast region are higher than in other regions. However, this income level is still not commensurate with the effort that construction workers put in. On average, each worker works 8-12 hours per day and 6-7 days per week.

“It is unfortunate that construction workers receive less attention than industries such as textiles, footwear, etc. Although the basic salary of construction workers, especially in the Southeast region, is higher than other regions and industries, the nature of the work is extremely dangerous, stressful, and difficult. They always face the sun and rain, being present in deep underground basements to towering heights in the sky. Therefore, the salary and welfare system must be more appropriate, meeting their living needs. They need to be honored and enjoy more policies,” emphasized Mr. Thang.

Building Tet for 12,000 construction workers.

Amidst the wave of labor layoffs and intense economic fluctuations in recent times, many businesses still offer benefits and plans to take care of and stabilize the livelihoods of workers. The “Build Tet 2023” project, coordinated by Coteccons Construction Joint Stock Company and the Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs, has just been launched to bring a warmer Tet holiday to those directly involved in building Vietnam’s iconic structures as an example.

Specifically, “Building Tet 2023” is being implemented synchronously at over 60 construction sites nationwide from January 4th to January 6th, 2023. The program will bring 12,000 Tet gifts, each worth 300,000 VND, to construction workers. Coteccons expects this project to continue to be implemented in the coming years, and the number will not stop at 12,000 but will increase with the participation of many other businesses nationwide, both within and outside the construction industry.

In addition to gift-giving activities, Coteccons will also organize Tet events with various activities such as haircuts at construction sites, Tet photoshoots, and free transportation back to the hometown.

Mr. Pham Quan Luc, Deputy General Director of Coteccons, shared that during this Tet holiday, all industries are facing difficulties in cash flow due to the impact from the real estate market. However, Coteccons is committed to prioritizing salary payments to ensure that workers can work with peace of mind and have a warm and fulfilling Tet holiday.