Part 2: Place of settlement of working people

Part 1: Tremendous changes

Concurrently with the development of infrastructure of industrial parks, trade-service zones and housing programs for working people are important tasks in the process of building and developing Binh Duong New City in particular and provincial socio-economic development in general. The social housing projects for working people are important basis for attracting labor forces, creating conditions for residence settlement and long-term attachment to enterprises to become important human resources for the development of the province.

Settling to get rich

Visiting Hoa Loi Social Housing Area at Hoa Phu Ward of Thu Dau Mot City, we could see all the care and efforts of provincial leaders, authorities and Becamex IDC for working people regarding their accommodation. Hoa Loi Social House Area has 2,435 apartments designed with an area of 30 - 60m² to accommodate 2 to 4 people, value from VND 100 to 150 million per unit. Buying houses here, the buyers only have to pay 20% of the total value of the house; and, the remaining amounts of installments is from VND 1-2 million / month. After 5-7 years, the working people who pays off the debt will own the house to settle down.

Phan Cao Phuc, Head of Housing - Real Estate Market Management under Department of Construction said that the Becamex social security development model on the basis of clean land has been invested and put into use at preferential selling prices, suitable for the working people’s incomes in combination with the flexible forms of lending suitable for salary of about VND 6-12 million / person / month. Thanks to that, they have helped the workers quickly get the house without having to pay monthly rent; thereon, ensuring their life.

A corner of Hoa Loi Social Housing Area is viewed in Binh Duong New City. Photo: Phuong Le

Thanks to the meaning and effectiveness of the Hoa Loi Social Housing in Binh Duong New City as well as contribution to the industrial development of the province, by the end of 2016 Becamex IDC has inaugurated and delivered 5,000 social housing apartments to customers in the province and continue to commence phase II of construction of 10,000 houses for workers.

By the projects of social housing, Binh Duong is one of the provinces and cities in the country of highly appreciated housing programs for workers. To date, Binh Duong has attracted 85 social housing development projects covering a total area of ​​3.9 million square meters, meeting the needs of 240,000 people; total investment capital is VND 19,000 billion. Of these, 43 projects belong to Becamex IDC covering a total area of ​​3.1 million m² of floor space, 70,000 apartments with a total investment capital of VND 12,100 billion; up to date, 25 projects have been completed and put into use with a total area of ​​491,262 square meters of residential floors, meeting the needs of about 40,000 people. In addition, there are about 200 enterprises operating in industrial parks and clusters that have invested in the construction of housing for workers with a total area of ​​270,000 square meters, meeting 47,000 people. Thus, from 2011 to present, the total floor area of ​​social housing of Binh Duong reached over 761.000m², meeting the needs of about 87,000 people.

It can be said that the construction of social housing has created a new breakthrough, aiming at social security and providing the best opportunity for workers; thereby, contributing to stabilize human resources and creating new attractiveness and promote sustainable socio-economic development in Binh Duong.

Facilities fully equipped

Nguyen Dien Trung, Secretary of Hoa Phu Ward Party Committee in Thu Dau Mot City said social housing areas were of Becamex IDC synchronous investment infrastructure. The ward has coordinated with the Management Board of social housing to ensure security, order, and fire safety. Hoa Loi         Social Housing Area is now strongly developed with various types of catering services to meet the needs of local residents such as shops, grocery stores, food and drink etc. Tran Thanh Hoa, a resident of the Hoa Loi Social Housing Area shared that now daily necessities for every family meal have been offered locally.

Walking around the Hoa Loi Social Housing Area, people will find it cool and peaceful. The social housing area in the evening is very bustling like a city. Talking to us, Phan Thi Huong, a local resident said: "Previously, each time that I want to give children game play, my wife and I have to travel quite far. But now, many types of services are available for children, and I just take my children for a few minutes to go to their place of play, which is very convenient and safe."

Nearly 5,000 people from other provinces in the country are living at Hoa Loi Social Housing Area; so, the activities, customs and habits are also different. Besides the positive side, this is one of the factors that affect the social order and safety. Being aware of this, the management board of the area has altogether with the local authorities doing well the task of ensuring security and order for people living locally. Tran Trong Nghia, a resident of the Hoa Loi Social Housing Area, said: "I am happy to live in this social housing area because of its well-coordinated infrastructure and well-ordered security."

Binh Duong province has a thriving industry, attracting a large workforce to live and work. In response to the increasing demand for housing for workers, the province has proposed various measures to the government to facilitate low-income workers and people to receive social housing assistance. The attention and efforts of provincial leaders in the development of social housing for workers will contribute to create peace of mind to workers around the country getting to Binh Duong province.

(To be continued…)

Reported by Phuong Le – Translated by Vi Bao