Labor does not dare to get married, borrow to spend

Low salarymany workers choose to live in shacks

This afternoon (April 26), the Institute of Trade Union Workers (General Confederation of Labor) held a scientific conference Salary increase and the problem of stable development of the labor market, production and business development.

The report of this Institute shows that workers only make up about 15% of the population and about 27% of the social labor force, but have contributed over 75% of the national budget and over 65% of GDP.

In recent years, the life and work of workers have been paid much attention, but there are still many pressing problems among workers and workers. Many urgent problems of workers still persist but have not been adequately addressed and resolved.

In particular, after more than 2 years of the pandemic, those problems continued to be “overturned” and became clearer and more serious: Money low salary and lack of accumulation; jobs and incomes are precarious; housing and living, educational and medical conditions are difficult; lack of security and social welfare.

According to a survey by the Institute of Workers and Trade Unions in 2020, up to 66% of workers currently have to rent hostels to live in, of which, nearly 4% have to stay in unstable or simple houses. cramped, humid conditions, lack of light, living facilities; 23% of workers are using water from ground wells and drilled wells.

Survey of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor on demand salary increase At enterprises conducted in March 2022 on more than 2,000 workers across the country, it shows that: Without overtime, the basic salary of workers and employees is only 4.92 million VND/month on average. . Most of the workers’ families still fall into difficulties, even when they don’t work overtime.

There is a common paradox, although workers and laborers are working with high intensity and long hours, but wages and income are not high. Workers in some industries and fields have to work overtime a lot, sometimes up to 60-70 hours/month, such as textiles, electronics, leather and footwear, seafood processing, wood production… Maybe that’s why it’s hard work but low salaryso up to 72% do not want their children to follow their career later.

Low salarymore than 12% of employees regularly borrow to spend

The above survey by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor also showed alarming numbers. Money low salary is the main cause leading to the lack of living expenses in the month.

There are more than 55% of workers, workers said salary and income just enough to cover basic living expenses. 23% said they have to spend frugally and miserable to get enough and more than 13% said their current income is not enough to live the minimum basic standard of living.

12% of workers said that they regularly borrow monthly to spend and stabilize their lives. 35% of those surveyed said they had to borrow from time to time, just over 17% said they didn’t have to borrow money to spend.

Due to poverty, more than 1/5 of surveyed workers said that they had withdrawn social insurance once (accounting for more than 20%), then continued to participate in social insurance.

5.5% of respondents rarely have meat or fish in their meals (only once a week). 33% said that sometimes (1/3 times a week) buy meat and fish with meals. This leads to an unsafe state of health.

More than 54% of employees said low salary, not having enough to live is the reason why they are afraid of not wanting to get married. 67% of married workers with 2 children said that their salary is not enough to cover the cost of their children’s education.

Also money low salary It also makes many workers afraid to access health care policies. more than 43% of workers said that they do not dare to go to the doctor because they do not have money. When sick, only buy some basic medicine. Up to 57% of laborers buy medicine for themselves and only go to medical facilities when their illness gets worse.

To compensate for their income, more than 44% of surveyed workers choose to work part-time to increase their income. There are 69% of businesses surveyed in favor of minimum wage increase from 1/7.

Thus, it can be seen that wages have a direct impact on workers’ lives. As for salary increase, there is a close relationship in stabilizing the labor market and developing production and business.

Many experts believe that it is necessary to ensure a life for workers – living to work, not working to live, and therefore they need to be guaranteed wages to pay for themselves and their families. surname.

Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu – Vice Chairman of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor said that it is necessary to increase the minimum wage for workers soon because we have “missed the appointment” to increase wages during the 2 years of the epidemic.

“Only when wages are concerned and commensurate with their productivity and dedication will they motivate and require them to work with productivity, quality, efficiency and bring greater revenue and profit to the company.” enterprises, for the country’s socio-economic development,” said Mr. Hieu.