Developing traditional occupations, creating jobs for rural workers

Identifying sustainable development of small-scale handicraft villages as one of the important solutions in implementing economic restructuring, many localities have focused on restoring traditional occupations, introducing and developing new occupations. From there, helping to fully utilize idle agricultural labor, create jobs, increase income, improve people's lives, and contribute to sustainable poverty reduction in localities.

Bamboo and rattan weaving in Hai Nhan commune, Nghi Son town creates jobs for hundreds of workers.

Thang Long Rice Vermicelli Production Service Cooperative located in Tan Giao village, Thang Long commune (Nong Cong) produces and consumes on average hundreds of tons of rice to make vermicelli every day. The cooperative's rice vermicelli products are favored by domestic and foreign markets and are regularly displayed at trade fairs, present on e-commerce trading floors and a number of supermarket chains and large stores. It is known that the rice vermicelli making profession in Tan Giao village currently has 52 households with 148 workers participating in the profession; the main products are vermicelli and pho noodles, with an output of about 2,500 tons/year, with a total value of nearly 30 billion VND/year...

It is known that Nong Cong district is a famous locality with many traditional craft villages that have existed for hundreds of years, closely associated with the production and daily life of the people. Among them, there are some outstanding craft villages such as: the incense making craft village in Quyet Thang village, Van Thang commune, with a scale of 62 households, with 113 workers, an output of about 75,000 bundles/year, a total production value of about 2.5 billion VND/year. The craft village of sedge mats and sedge products, with a scale of 461 households, attracts 1,055 workers, mainly in Truong Giang, Minh Khoi, Te Nong, Tuong Son communes...

Currently, the whole province has 125 craft villages in operation; of which there are 85 traditional craft villages and 40 new craft villages, the craft villages are creating jobs for nearly 60,000 workers. Of which, the group of mat weaving villages has 30 craft villages, mainly concentrated in the districts of Nga Son, Quang Xuong, Nong Cong, creating jobs for about 6,500 workers with the main products being: mats, sedge baskets, sedge cushions, sedge sandals, sedge boxes, sedge baskets, sedge mats, sedge bags... The group of rattan and bamboo weaving villages has 25 craft villages, mainly concentrated in the districts of Hoang Hoa, Tho Xuan, Cam Thuy, Nong Cong, creating jobs for about 2,700 workers. The group of carpentry villages has 7 craft villages, mainly concentrated in the districts of Hoang Hoa, Tho Xuan, Cam Thuy, creating jobs for about 2,100 workers. The seafood processing craft village group has 12 craft villages mainly concentrated in Hoang Hoa district, Sam Son city and Nghi Son town, this craft group is creating jobs for thousands of workers. The blacksmith and bronze casting craft village group has 5 craft villages mainly in Hau Loc and Thieu Hoa districts, creating jobs for nearly 700 workers. The cake, nem gio cha processing craft village has 5 craft villages, mainly concentrated in Thanh Hoa city, creating jobs for nearly 2,000 workers, the main products are: lam tea, nem chua, vermicelli, rice vermicelli, rice paper, gai cake, banh la rang bua... Income from small handicraft craft villages averages from 3 to 6 million VND/person/month depending on the profession and the number of products made. However, workers participating in traditional occupations and craft villages have many advantages, such as working hours are not restricted, they can take advantage of their free time during the off-season or combine it with other jobs, and especially there are occupations that can attract many people to participate, including people outside of working age.

Besides the advantages, the development of professions still has many limitations, which are: the labor force in craft villages is mainly untrained, there is still a shortage of skilled labor; lack of capital to expand production and invest in purchasing machinery and equipment; the production scale of many craft villages is still small; the quality of products is not high, and there is no focus on building brands...

To maintain and develop the handicraft industry, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a number of support policies, such as: supporting investment in technical infrastructure for production; supporting the purchase of raw materials, machinery, equipment, production lines; supporting investment in waste collection and treatment systems, concentrated production water in craft villages... Creating favorable conditions and supporting rural industry establishments and craft villages to participate in trade promotion activities. The Department of Industry and Trade and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development have also coordinated with localities to organize training courses, support people and cooperatives to build electronic information pages to introduce products, sell online; design product models, packaging; build brands, geographical indications of origin of goods, protect trademark ownership; regularly organize fairs for entities to display and promote products of rural industries and craft villages. Thanh Hoa province strives to restore, preserve and recognize 5 new occupations and 5 traditional craft villages by 2025, with at least 50% of rural industry establishments having OCOP products.

Article and photos: Minh Ha

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/phat-trien-nghe-truyen-thong-tao-viec-lam-cho-lao-dong-nong-thon-234181.htm