Many jobless at Vinashin, Vinalines

HCMC -  The transport industry in the first six months of the year saw nearly 18,500 workers losing their jobs or taking rotating leave due to production being scaled down, with the number of unemployed at Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin) and Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) accounting for over a half.

Ta Dang Manh, chairman of the Trade Union of the transport industry, said capital shortages plus slow or halted progress of transport projects have made many workers in the industry jobless.
Of the unemployed, Vinashin accounts for up to 7,800 and Vinalines for 2,200. As such, the number of jobless at the two State-owned groups makes up over 50% of the total, Manh told the Daily on the phone on Monday.
Meanwhile, many companies in the industry still owe social insurance premiums to their staff, at up to more than VND386 billion, with the total amount at Vinashin and Vinalines making up 50%, Manh noted.
According to recent statistics by the Ministry of Transport, there are about 15.8% of transport firms in financial distress. Those companies specializing in road and water transport projects and industrial production are increasingly suffering severe job shortages and they have failed to pay salaries and social insurance as a result.
To deal with the situation, Manh said the ministry had suggested the Government advance capital from next year’s State budget to deploy a number of schemes whose construction is being suspended. At the same time, companies in the industry have proactively searched for projects to create jobs for their workers.