The End of a Dream
A few weeks before the Year of the Snake Tết, Ms. Trương Thị Lệ (34 years old, from Quảng Bình Province) reluctantly signed her voluntary resignation letter. At that moment, she knew she wouldn’t be able to buy new clothes for her children or some Tet candies for her parents because she only had a small amount of money left, barely enough to get through the upcoming difficult period.
After more than 8 years as a worker at one of the largest textile companies in the city and over a decade away from home, the mother of two suddenly realized that she and her husband hadn’t saved anything.
Ms. Lệ bitterly summarized, “We came to the city with nothing, and now we’re leaving with nothing again.” Their dream of escaping poverty remains stuck in the “promised land,” its realization uncertain.
She dreaded facing questions from neighbors about why she couldn’t make ends meet despite working in a big city.
“But it’s better than living in deprivation and struggle,” Ms. Lệ said tearfully.
The most humiliating and regretful moments for the female worker were during special occasions when she saw other families shopping and taking their kids out while she had to make excuses to her own children.
Her income barely covered basic living expenses in the city, and there were months when illness forced her to borrow money. For her family, a $3 coffee or a $2.50 bowl of pho were luxuries in the “promised land,” which remained inaccessible to poor workers like her.
“As a worker, I earn $220/month, or up to $350 if I work overtime. It’s just enough for rent, food, and basic necessities for my husband and me.
Since having kids, things have become much harder because we don’t know how to cover extra expenses. I had to leave my children with their grandparents back home,” Ms. Lệ shared.
Her eldest child is 2, and her youngest is 4 months old, both living without their parents’ warmth. Her elderly parents in the countryside can only help temporarily by relying on farming income.
Living apart from her children caused constant worry. Ms. Lệ and her husband agonized over whether to stay or return.
“Many nights, I tossed and turned, realizing that after a decade in the city, sacrificing family time and so much else, I had nothing to show for it. We’re separated from our kids, and the factory work has taken a toll on our health. If this continues, I’ll eventually be laid off like other aging workers,” Ms. Lệ reflected.
After months of internal conflict, she made a decision she never imagined: resigning.
On the day she signed her resignation, her husband suggested they both return home to care for their children. But with financial struggles still looming, Ms. Lệ convinced him to stay behind and work a little longer until she found stable employment back home.
On the day she left the city, Ms. Lệ’s heart was heavy. Looking back at the place she had lived and worked for over a decade, she sighed, “To say I don’t feel regret would be a lie.”
After the longest and most memorable Tết break of her life, Ms. Lệ admitted she still hasn’t found a new job back home. However, being closer to her parents and children has eased some stress. Without daily survival pressures, she feels relieved since, as she puts it, “In the countryside, we eat what we grow.”
Adapting to Life in the “Promised Land”
Ms. Hiệp (42 years old, from Quảng Bình), a worker at a textile company in Bình Tân District, also decided to leave the city for her hometown during the recent Tết holiday. Returning after over a decade away, she chuckled bitterly as she adjusted to the peaceful rural lifestyle she’d long forgotten amid the city’s fast pace.
She found a job near her home with a lower salary than her previous city job. However, in the countryside, that income covers living expenses and even leaves a small surplus each month.
“Working in the countryside pays less than in the city, but I’m closer to my children and save on many costs. The cost of living here is low, so I manage and save a bit,” she explained.
Mr. Nguyễn Văn Hùng, Chairman of the Trade Union at Đại Dũng Mechanical Trading Joint Stock Company (Ho Chi Minh City), noted that the company offers programs to support workers’ families. Each factory provides accommodation for employees.
However, he observed a trend of workers moving from industrial zones in Ho Chi Minh City back to their hometowns to be closer to their children and families.
The main reason is the high cost of living in cities, coupled with the difficulty of finding affordable childcare. Many workers send their children back to their hometowns to be cared for by grandparents.
In reality, access to social welfare among workers is declining. None of the essential policies achieve even 50% coverage.
Statistics reveal that, for the first time, Ho Chi Minh City is no longer an ideal destination for migrants. In 2023, only around 65,000 people moved there for work—half the number from previous years.
Emerging industrial and economic hubs are catching up with Ho Chi Minh City, competing to attract laborers from the Mekong Delta, Central Vietnam, and the Central Highlands.
According to VCCI and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), among 1,000 surveyed workers currently employed in Ho Chi Minh City, Đồng Nai, and Bình Dương, 15.5% plan to return to their hometowns permanently, and 44.6% are undecided between staying or going back.
For those planning to return, the primary push factor is insufficient income to cover urban living costs (38.1%), while the main pull factors are proximity to family (47.1%) and improved job opportunities in their hometowns (15.5%).
Among 200 workers who stayed in their hometowns, 92.5% said they do not intend to migrate again. This sentiment is stronger among older workers seeking stable jobs in their native regions.
Source link: https://dantri.com.vn/an-sinh/ky-nghi-tet-dai-han-cua-cong-nhan-chon-roi-dat-hua-20250210125843943.htm
