VietNamNet Bridge – Local authorities hope to cut HCM City's unemployment rate to 4.8 per cent from last year's 4.9 per cent, according to the deputy director of the city Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Le Trong Sang said the city would target employing an additional 265,000 people and create 120,000 new jobs this year.

The city has about 312,000 unemployed people of working age.

Last year, more than 123,000 new jobs were created, a drop of 8.3 per cent against the previous year, according to a report released on Tuesday by the department.

The city sent nearly 5,900 guest workers abroad last year, a year-on-year decrease of 1,000 workers.

Nearly 140,000 laid-off workers registered for unemployment insurance benefits, a year-on-year increase of 33.6 per cent.

Last year, the number of orders at IPs and EPZs plummeted, causing companies to cut thousands of jobs, according to Nguyen Tan Dinh, deputy head of the city's Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority.

Slight demand in recruitment among companies in IPs and EPZs resulted in a low rate of employee turnover.

With few vacancies available, companies preferred to hire workers with skills, which caused a higher unemployment rate among the unskilled.

With Tet approaching, demand for temporary workers has shot up in HCM City.

The HCM City Centre for Students Support has received information about thousands of temporary jobs for students, with wages higher than they were last year.

Nguyen Trong Hoang, an official at the centre, said more than 1,700 jobs had so far been taken, and another 2,000 were still available.

Though the number of companies seeking temporary workers was down 15-20 per cent compared to last year, the number of vacancies had risen by 10 per cent, he said.

Wages were 10-15 per cent higher this year, he added.

Temporary workers are paid VND120,000-400,000 for eight-hour shifts selling tickets at amusement sites, promoting products, selling and gift-wrapping at supermarkets, distributing leaflets, and taking care of motorbikes at parking lots.

Candy, cake, and jam processing facilities offer daily wages of VND100,000 to VND400,000.

Lotte Mart needs 400 salespersons, cashiers, and security, delivery and gift-wrapping workers and is offering daily wages of VND84,000.

The organisers of Nguyen Hue Flower Street for Tet need 400 male workers at hourly wages of VND27,000.

The number of students from other provinces living in HCM City looking for temporary jobs would probably increase as they hoped to earn some money instead of returning home for the holiday, Hoang said.

The HCM City Youth Employment Serives Centre has been informed about more than 600 vacancies by 50 companies offering daily wages of VND110,000-200,000.

Source: VNS