Labor markets in dire straights

The economic crisis has rendered many menial workers jobless, forcing them to turn to “street labor” in Hanoi, where there is occasional work with meager pay.

Many laborers have taken to the streets, waiting day in and day out on the sidewalks for clients to come over and offer them menial, seasonal work for low pay. Some of them have been doing such “street jobs” for a long time, but many others who lost their jobs due to the recent economic crisis have also turned to the streets in search of work.

Do Van Quy, 46, who hails from northern Ha Nam province, has taken unskilled jobs in Hanoi for 23 years, including running errands at construction sites and transporting cargo on bikes.

He has recently learned some basic carpentry skills, and joined the ‘carpenter’ workforce on Duong Thanh street in Hoan Kiem district.

“Some years ago, we managed to eke out a living with these jobs, but I don’t know why things are getting much tougher these days. Over the past two years, we wait here every day, but few get work, and even if we do, the pay is so low,” he lamented.

Quy’s “colleague,” Nguyen Phu Binh, added that many were daunted by the lack of work, and left the street for another or returned to their hometowns.

Many drag home after an unfruitful day, but several patiently stay into the night, hoping to find some late work.

Job scarcity has perhaps dealt construction workers the most devastating blow. Nguyen Gia Trung, from northern Thanh Hoa province, has 10 years of experience working in construction. Some years ago, he made quite a decent living and had plenty of work. In recent years, since the local realty market froze and construction demands have been low, Trung and others like him are now ready to do anything to make money, including unloading cargo and pulling carts.

Some years ago, domestic helpers and nannies were in demand and well-paid. The women could easily earn some VND3-4 million (up to US$189) a month and were always on the lookout for even higher-paid jobs.

However, in recent years these women have also had difficulty finding jobs.

“In the economic malaise, more people have tightened their belts and refrained from hiring domestic help. The jobs are really hard to come by these days,” complained Le Thi Phi, from Thanh Hoa province.

There is a hierarchy in Hanoi labor markets, ranging from totally unskilled laborers to those with some skills in woodwork, plumbing, and domestic help.

As the markets are all painfully slow, those looking for work keep constant watch for any work opportunities.

Living on meager incomes, these laborers usually skip breakfast or make do with spare, nutritionally poor meals. A local peddler of boiled corn said his clients typically have a VND5,000 ($0.24) corn cob for breakfast and even lunch as well. Inspired by their frugality, the peddler came up with the idea of selling the water in which the corn is boiled for VND1,000 a glass to help them drive away their hunger.