Do not let the dream of settling down of Ho Chi Minh City workers "sleep" on paper

To solve the housing problem for low-income workers, the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation (LĐLĐ) has strongly shifted from the "connection, signing" method to "connection - monitoring - removal - monitoring progress". Lao Dong Newspaper had an exchange with Mr. Vo Khac Thai - Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City LĐLĐ on the roadmap to realize 128,000 houses for workers by 2030.

Sir, what are the financial barriers that make it difficult for workers to access the city's social housing fund for rent and lease-purchase?

- According to initial surveys, the housing needs of union members, workers, and laborers are very large: there are about 3,181 cases with housing rental needs and 30,339 cases with rental and purchase needs for social housing.

In our opinion, the biggest barrier is not only house prices but also the ability to balance monthly cash flow of workers. With limited income, workers have to simultaneously pay rent or house installments, living expenses, childcare, travel, schooling and other arising expenses. Therefore, even with preferential credit policies, if the loan term is not long enough, the supply of suitable rental housing is not large enough, and the house price is not commensurate with the ability to pay, access is still difficult.

Therefore, the Trade Union determines to approach the problem in the direction of "housing suitable for affordability", continuing to connect workers with projects and proposing long-term credit mechanisms to reduce cost pressure.

The Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation has signed a cooperation agreement with businesses to develop social housing. So can you share more about the progress and solutions so that these agreements are not "on paper"?

- To date, the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation has signed cooperation minutes with 9 businesses, and is expected to develop about 128,000 houses by 2030. This is a very important social resource, but we clearly identify it as a planned commitment list, not synonymous with the number of houses completed or started construction.

The progress of projects is currently uneven. Some projects have basically completed procedures and are expected to start construction in the fourth quarter of 2026, such as the Hoa Sen An Ha project (1,853 apartments in Tan Vinh Loc commune). Some other projects are completing dossiers to start construction in 2027, or continue to search for land funds.

The viewpoint of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation is not to let the agreements stop at signing. Therefore, the Trade Union is shifting from the "connection, signing" method to "connection - monitoring - removal - monitoring progress".

We are also implementing a "3-party" linkage model between the Trade Union organization - housing investment enterprises - employers and employees.

How to get project information to the right workers and stop the "ask-give" mechanism or policy profiteering, sir?

- This is a transparent problem that the Trade Union is particularly concerned about. If there is a house but workers do not grasp the information or struggle with procedures, the policy has not yet gone into life. We are implementing 3 synchronous solutions:

Promote the role of grassroots trade unions at enterprises with many workers to make lists, confirm the correct needs and beneficiaries.

Coordinate with investors and functional agencies to widely announce the number of apartments, rental/purchase rental prices, conditions and procedures for receiving dossiers. Currently, Decree 54/2026/ND-CP has significantly simplified procedures for social housing tenants, creating a very favorable legal corridor.

Promote the application of the Trade Union organization's digital platform to build a housing demand database, helping to connect quickly and accurately between workers - businesses - investors.

We thoroughly grasp the principle: Public, transparent, targeted, absolutely not to let the "ask - give" mechanism arise. The Trade Union will accompany, support, and guide workers on dossiers, and the review and signing of contracts must strictly comply with legal regulations.

Thank you for this interview!

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