Workers move into new housing

The Phu Hoa Apartment Block was completed earlier this year under a Government pilot programme to build housing for low-income workers. — VNA/VNS Photo Quach Lam

BINH DUONG (VNS)— Hundreds of workers in the southern province of Binh Duong moved in to the region's first ever low-income houses on Sunday, as part of an ambitious scheme to provide homes for hundreds of thousands in the next three years.

After seven months of construction, Becamex IDC launched the first low-income apartments blocks with each of the 386 apartments boasting 30sq.m of space at a cost of between VND99-110million(US$4,500-5000).

Among the beneficiaries were newlyweds Nguyen Van Chau and Le Thi Mai Phi who are delighted they no longer have to rent temporary accommodation as they start their new life together. "Now we can think about having children," Chau said.

Worker Nguyen Ngoc Thua, from TNT Company in Viet-Sing Industrial Parks said the 30sq.m apartment was ideal for his means, especially with the preferential loans.

Thua, who thought it was time for him to settle down in the province, said: "We can clear out the debt after several years."

According to Nguyen Van Khuong, Deputy Director of the social house management project, the province has created favourable conditions for house investors by working with banks to lower the interest by 1 per cent compared with current interest rates.

Khuong said workers whose monthly income was of VND3 million($140) could pay for their apartment from 5-10 years.

He believed social houses had made a significant change in accommodation for workers, especially for those who came from other provinces.

Statistics showed that Binh Duong had about 700,000 workers struggling to find a stable accommodation in the province, while a survey from the local People's Council found 90 percent of workers desired a house to settle in the province.

The social housing scheme was carried out under the guidelines of the province which has assigned Becamex Company as an investor for the construction-sale of the properties.

With 28 industrial zones in the area including Thu Dau Mot City, Thuan An and Di An Towns, Ben Cat and Tan Uyen Districts, Becamex plans to use 2.7 million square km of land to provide 64,700 apartments for 164,000 people by 2015. — VNS