Social housing for workers

To care for workers, Binh Duong has many preferential policies, including the construction of social housing that is one of key policy to help workers happily settle on his second hometown.

A corner of Hoa Loi social housing area in Hoa Phu Ward, TDM City

Do not worry about accommodation anymore

Coming to Hoa Loi social housing area in Hoa Phu Ward, TDM City, we realized the concern of the business community and local government for workers. Each apartment is designed logically on an area of ​​30m2 or 60m2 for 2-4 persons and is priced at VND100-150 million. Customers may pay 20% in advance; the remaining amount can be paid in installments from VND1-2 million/month, which is equal to the rent of a lodging room. After 5-7 years, customers pay off the debt will own the apartment. This has helped many low-income workers to quickly realize their dream without losing monthly rental fee.

Mr. Nguyen Van Duong, worker of Vietnam Foster Electronics Company, said: "I am very happy to live in this social housing area, because of good material facilities, strict security and order. Moreover, with flexible repayment policy, I do not have to worry much about the repayment as well as family expenses". Ms. Luong Thi Tuyet, worker of Kumho Tire Company in Ben Cat Town, said: "Instead of spending VND1 - 1.5 million on leasing a lodging room every month, now, my family pay this money to buy an apartment in installments. This policy is suitable for low-income employees, enables workers to work and settle happily".

Mr. Bui Van Chien, Deputy Director of Becamex IDC, said Becamex IDC had built nearly 5,000 social housing apartments at various locations surrounding industrial areas, namely, in Hoa Loi (Thu Dau Mot City) 2,435 apartments, Viet Sing (Thuan An Town) 752 apartments, My Phuoc (Ben Cat Town) 1,388 apartments, Bau Bang (Bau Bang District) 320 apartments ... The construction of social housing has created a new breakthrough, served the social security and brought the best opportunities for employees, contributed to stabilizing human resources, attracting new economic sources, boosting sustainable socio-economic development in Binh Duong. An advantage to workers when buying Becamex social housing is flexible methods of payment. Buyers may be granted loans with preferential interest rates from VND30,000 billion package of the Government. Buyers are granted ownership certificate of house attached to the land in order to help employees settle happily in Binh Duong.

Social welfare policy

Implementing social housing development programs in Binh Duong province in 2011-2015, the province has attracted 82 social housing projects meeting housing demands of 238,325 persons. Binh Duong currently has 22 completed projects with a total floor area of ​​420,205m2 meeting demands of 36,800 persons. As of Jun 2015, the province has about 200 enterprises to invest in the accommodation construction for employees with a total floor area of ​​269,982m2 meeting demands of about 46,974 persons. In particular, Binh Duong has about 3,000,000m2 of lodging rooms financed by households and individuals. By far, this accommodation has effectively resolved majority demands of employees. Regarding low-income housing, Binh Duong has approved 12 projects with a total floor area of 301,364m2 meeting demands of 19,471 persons. At this time, there are 5 completed projects meeting demands of about 3,824 people.

Households and individuals have also invested in building lodging houses for workers, students with an expense of ​​VND3 million/m2. Every year, households and individuals investing in lodging houses have made a great contribution to solving accommodation for workers. Many lodging houses were built solidly with 2 to 3 floors and garret on area from 15 - 20m2. Every day, there are garbage sweeping and collecting workers, security force to protect assets and security order of lodging house. Some businesses also support rent fees, provincial government support electricity and water fees in order to help employees making long-term commitment to the company. Besides, the VND30.000 billion credit package supporting social housing purchase has been aggressively implemented by banks.

Talking to us, Mr. Bui Thanh Nhan, Chairman of provincial Labor Federation, said social housing development project was an important project in terms of political and social aspect; not only solved the housing needs, stabled people’s life, and contributed to consolidating the human resource, implemented well social welfare policies, giving a better accommodation to low-income people in urban areas to improve the quality of life. Despite of financial difficulties, the province has taken interest in constructing housing for workers in industrial parks, given supports in procedures and policies with specific regulations on lodging house planning and management for workers, contributing to reducing difficulties in accommodation for workers.

Reported by Kim Ha – Translated by Ngoc Huynh