HANOI, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Businesses in some sectors in Vietnam have been struggling to maintain their workers amid declining demand in major export markets, local media reported on Friday.
Lower demand in such big markets as the European Union and the United States has resulted in fewer orders this year, traditionally the busiest time for textile, footwear and handicraft exporters, local newspaper Vietnam News reported.
As businesses were forced to cut production, lay-off and reduced hours have been not uncommon. Re-hiring workers often means re-training, however, it may prove to be very costly once demand bounces back, the newspaper cited labor experts as saying.
Tran Thanh Hai, vice president of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), said nearly a quarter of a million textile, footwear and handicraft workers were not working full shifts. The situation could be much worse because reporting from lower-level organizations remained spotty at best.
The VGCL said things won't likely improve any time soon, at least from now until the end of the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, which falls in late January 2023.
Labor and industry experts said a shortage of orders has been much worse than during the COVID-19 pandemic. ■