Unable to work overtime because of young children, workers choose to quit their jobs to find a new job

Concerns after work

Ms. Phuong Mai (Me Linh commune, Hanoi) has worked at a company in Thang Long Industrial Park for more than 5 years. With a stable job and income, she has had to submit a retirement application since August 2025 because no one was looking after her child to work overtime.

"I have two young children, the older one is only in grade 2, the younger one is just 3 years old. The house is far away from her grandparents, and her husband also works as a constant overtime worker. Before, I could even try to work overtime because someone was taking care of my child. But now there is no one to support, my child needs care, I can't continue working the night shift or working overtime until 9 - 10 pm," said Ms. Phuong Mai.

Not only Ms. Mai, many female workers with young children are also in a similar situation. The job has been together for many years, but when they cannot work overtime - which is a mandatory requirement for some production lines - they are forced to choose to quit their jobs to find a new, more suitable job.

Between family and work, workers choose family

Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong (from Nghe An) said that each overtime shift lasts 2 - 3 hours, it seems not much, but for workers with young children, it is a precious time to take their children to school, eat with the family or study with them.

When workers are forced to choose between family and work, most will choose family. That is understandable, because children need their parents to accompany them in the first years of their lives" - Mr. Cuong said.

Mr. Cuong hopes that businesses will retain their workers, not only need attractive salaries or long-term contracts, but also need understanding and flexibility in how to arrange shifts.

Mr. Cuong also expressed that if there is a safe place to send children, if there is flexible work hours, workers will definitely stay long-term. Enterprises should allow employees with young children to choose suitable shifts, or reduce the pressure of mandatory overtime. In addition, local authorities also need to build more kindergartens and low-cost kindergartens near industrial parks so that workers can feel secure leaving their children.

No one wants to give up a job that they have been attached to for many years, but when having to consider between income and family, most workers choose children. That is a reality that businesses need to recognize. To help workers feel secure in their contributions, in addition to salary and benefits, what they need most is sharing, flexibility in arranging shifts and support from society in taking care of children. When workers are accompanied and understood, they will stay together for a long time, and the business will be more sustainable, Mr. Cuong confided.

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