On February 19, the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) reported on the return to work situation after the Lunar New Year holiday in 2024.
Accordingly, based on quick surveys conducted at businesses and information from the labor departments in districts, wards, and Thu Duc City, as well as the city’s labor union, during the Tet holiday, HCMC recorded 13 enterprises that required employees to work continuously during the holiday with a total of 1,544 out of 6,566 workers. Additionally, there were some businesses operating in the tourism, accommodation, food and beverage, and entertainment sectors, as well as transportation services in tourist areas where there were many visitors and locals.
 HCMC has seen 97% of workers returning to work after the Tet holiday. Illustrative image. Photo: XUAN KHOAT
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97% of workers have returned to work in HCMC
According to Ms. Luong Thi Toi, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs of HCMC, starting from February 15 (the 6th day of the Lunar New Year), most employees in government agencies, units (except public schools), and state-owned enterprises have returned to work, accounting for nearly 99%;
As for the situation of workers in non-state-owned enterprises with a large labor force, the rate of enterprises resuming operations is about 65%, with a labor force participation rate of 85%. Due to the fact that the return to work after the Tet holiday fell on the Thursday and Friday of the weekend, some businesses allowed employees to take annual leave, especially those who traveled far to their hometowns to celebrate Tet.
By February 20, based on the survey results from 3,247 businesses, the rate of businesses resuming operations was about 98%, with a labor force participation rate of 97%. According to the assessment of businesses, the labor shortage rate after Tet was below 3%, mainly concentrated in businesses operating in labor-intensive industries such as textiles, garments, leather and footwear, electronics, and insurance and finance.
Compared to 2023, the rate of workers returning to work after Tet has not changed much. The reason can be clearly attributed to the fact that the production and business activities of enterprises in 2023 still faced many difficulties due to unpredictable fluctuations in the global economy. Workers desire stable employment and stronger attachment to businesses in 2024.
On the other hand, production and business activities are showing positive signs with several businesses receiving production orders in the first 6 months of 2024 at the end of 2023.
Stable employment and taking care of workers’ lives
Ms. Toi stated that in order to enhance state management of labor, employment, and labor relations in the near future, especially focusing on stabilizing the situation and taking care of workers’ lives after the Lunar New Year holiday in 2024, the department will focus on implementing the following solutions:
First, continue to monitor the return to work situation after the Lunar New Year holiday, labor shortages at businesses, and coordinate with agencies and organizations to implement programs to assist workers, connect labor supply and demand to help workers stabilize their jobs. Enterprises should focus on their production and business plans from the beginning of the year.
The department will direct the City Employment Service Center to organize job fairs, labor exchange floors to connect labor supply and demand, and reduce labor shortages in businesses. The center will also provide advice and job recommendations for workers who rearrange employment with a large number of workers. Timely implementation of unemployment insurance policies (unemployment benefits, vocational training support).
Second, continue to enhance coordination between departments and industries to effectively implement coordination regulations between the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs and the City Labor Federation, Social Insurance, and the City’s Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in grasping the labor situation and promoting the building of harmonious and stable labor relations.
Third, closely coordinate with the City Labor Federation, Social Insurance, Management Boards of Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks, and other relevant agencies to strengthen supervision, timely research, and support businesses and employers in ensuring compliance with labor regulations and policies according to labor laws.
Fourth, strengthen information dissemination and promote training support policies to enhance labor skills, ensuring job quality and adapting to technological changes as well as aligning with the city’s development orientation.
Nguyen Hien
