Workers at the Lạc Thuỷ Garment JSC in Lạc Thuỷ District, Hoà Bình Province. — Photo from Đức Giang Corporation

HOÀ BÌNH — Lạc Thuỷ District, 80km from Hoà Bình City, the first new rural district in the northern province Hoà Bình, is home to many factories and production workshops that employ many local residents.

Nguyễn Khánh Linh, a 35-year-old woman from Phú Thành Commune in Lạc Thuỷ District, said that a few years ago, people, especially the youth in the commune, had limited employment opportunities, and mostly engaged in livestock farming and cultivation at home.

"To find other types of work, they had to travel to industrial zones in Hà Nội, Hưng Yên or Bắc Ninh. Since the establishment of garment and brick factories here, our people no longer have to move away from their hometown or travel long distances for work. There are stable jobs at home with a decent income, and we enjoy various attractive benefits."

Linh said since becoming a worker at the Lạc Thuỷ Garment JSC, a subsidiary of Đức Giang Corporation, she has earned a stable income of around VNĐ7-8 million (US$287-328) per month.

Currently, her family has managed to start saving money, her children are attending school regularly, and they have been able to afford many convenient items of modern life such as a TV, washing machine, refrigerator and a motorbike.

Similarly, Đinh Ngọc Hoài, a 30-year-old man who is currently employed at the Gốm Mỹ Brick Factory (Yến Bồng Commune, Lạc Thuỷ District), said he has been working there for two years with an income of about VNĐ10-12 million a month.

"This income is enough to meet my family's basic needs, ensure that my children have proper food and education, and afford many essential items for daily life. The arrival of the Gốm Mỹ Brick Factory has changed my life and many others, helping us escape poverty."

Attracting investment into industrial clusters

Quách Hoàng Hiệp, Chairman of Yên Bồng Commune, stated that there are currently many factories and production workshops active in the commune, providing employment for local residents.

Among them, the Gốm Mỹ Brick Factory of Gốm Mỹ Ceramic JSC - HB has a total investment of over VNĐ100 billion ($4.1 million) and has been in operation since the end of 2021, creating jobs for nearly 100 workers with an average income of VNĐ8-10 million a month.

A cement plant project and a lime production plant project based in Yên Bồng Commune, both invested by Xuân Thiện Group, are currently in the process of land clearance. These are among key projects in Hoà Bình Province, and once operational, they will create thousands of jobs for local workers.

Đinh Thị Thu Huyền, Head of the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Lạc Thuỷ District, said there are about 130 businesses, production establishments and cooperatives operating in the district, providing employment for over 7,000 rural workers in the locality.

The industrial factories that have invested in the district have generated a significant number of jobs for the locals, helping them earn stable incomes and improve their quality of life.

Bùi Mạnh Cường, Deputy Director of the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Hoà Bình Province, also commented that the province has been attracting many investment projects to promote economic development and create employment opportunities for rural workers.

Since the beginning of 2023, the department has collaborated with various sectors to effectively implement solutions to address the employment needs of the local population. Currently, it is estimated that around 18,500 workers in the province will have their employment needs met.

According to information from Lạc Thuỷ District's authorities, the industrial and construction sectors account for 35.8 per cent of the local economy. Small-scale industrial and craft industries continue to develop, providing employment and income for workers, contributing to increasing industrial production value. As of now, there are 19 investors in industrial clusters in the district, with a total investment capital of VNĐ1.4 trillion.

Lạc Thuỷ District will continue to attract investment in industrial clusters in the time to come. Specifically, the focus will be on preparing documents to submit to the Hoà Bình People's Committee to establish and act as the investor for infrastructure development of the Đồng Tâm II industrial cluster, covering an area of over 66 hectares. — VNS