FDI firms invest in developing Vietnamese workforce

Zeng Shuiping, human resources and administration director at DBG Technology (Vietnam) Co. Ltd., told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper that the Hong Kong-invested electronics manufacturer currently employs more than 7,000 workers and plans to recruit around 1,500 more during 2026-27 to support production expansion.

However, he said the company faces growing recruitment challenges as more manufacturers invest in Thai Nguyen Province, intensifying competition for workers.

To secure sufficient labor, DBG Technology has expanded cooperation with colleges and universities through recruitment and training programs tailored to industry needs.

The company is also building a workers' dormitory with accommodation for 5,000 people, scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026, along with additional employee welfare programs aimed at attracting young workers.

Zeng said the company offers Chinese-language classes to Vietnamese employees and Vietnamese-language courses to Chinese staff to improve communication and workplace integration.

Outstanding Vietnamese employees are also sent to China for further training before returning to Vietnam to take on management positions.

Shin Yong In, general director of Hansol Electronics Vietnam Co. Ltd., said the South Korean-invested company currently employs more than 7,000 workers and is a major supplier to Samsung Electronics, manufacturing and assembling smartphones, tablets, and other electronic products.

Hansol plans to expand production and recruit about 1,000 additional employees, with around 80 percent working in production and 20 percent in technical positions.

To prepare new recruits, the company has developed onboarding programs conducted in Vietnamese, providing employees with workplace regulations and essential knowledge before they begin work.

The training content is tailored to local workforce conditions and is delivered in Vietnamese.

Do Thi Hien, chairwoman of the Thai Nguyen Labor Federation, said the province is promoting a campaign encouraging productivity, skills improvement, and higher incomes as part of efforts to support double-digit economic growth.

“The campaign's goals align with the interests of both businesses and workers. Companies need higher productivity to expand production, while workers seek stable jobs and better incomes,” Hien said.

She said the labor federation would allow trade unions to implement the campaign flexibly according to the size and characteristics of workplaces so employees clearly understand the benefits of improving skills and innovation.

The federation is also discussing with several major grassroots trade unions a reward mechanism that would provide bonuses for technical innovations based on a percentage of the economic value generated for businesses.

“This could be incorporated into labor agreements to ensure a balanced sharing of benefits between employees and employers,” Hien said.

In the coming period, the federation plans to allocate funding for foreign language training for trade union officials working with FDI enterprises.

It will also cooperate with relevant agencies to provide free language training programs for union members and organize evening online language classes in partnership with grassroots unions, with costs shared between participants and the trade union.

“We believe that stronger foreign language skills will significantly improve workers' employment opportunities and incomes,” Hien said.

Ngo Duy Hieu, permanent vice-president of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, said trade unions are encouraging workers to pursue lifelong learning, improve vocational skills, modernize working methods, and strengthen digital and foreign language competencies.

To raise labor productivity, trade unions will continue promoting emulation campaigns, encouraging innovation, and supporting the application of science, technology, and digital transformation in manufacturing.

Trade unions will also continue representing and protecting workers' rights, helping employees work with greater confidence, remain committed to their companies, and fully develop their capabilities.

“Through dialogue and collective bargaining with businesses, trade unions will promote solutions that improve production efficiency while safeguarding employment,” Hieu said.