Mr. Tran Thanh Thao, Deputy Chief of Office of the Ho Chi Minh City Confederation of Labor, presented this content at the city's socio-economic press conference on the afternoon of 1/10.

Mr. Tran Thanh Thao, Deputy Chief of Office of the Ho Chi Minh City Confederation of Labor, at the socio-economic press conference on the afternoon of 1/10. *Photo: An Phuong*

According to Mr. Thao, 953 apartments at Vinh Loc B Residential Area, Tan Vinh Loc commune, have been vacant for many years. Many areas have overgrown paths, the internal park is deserted, and some facilities are deteriorating due to infrequent maintenance.

The resettlement area, which began operations in 2010 with an investment exceeding 1,000 billion VND, was intended to house residents displaced by the city's urban upgrade program. After more than 15 years, many apartments remain unused, and the structures show signs of degradation.

The Ho Chi Minh City Confederation of Labor believes converting these apartments into rental units would immediately utilize existing housing stock, reduce asset waste, and provide housing for workers without waiting for new projects.

A survey by the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Union reveals that over 33,500 individuals urgently need housing. Among these, 3,181 households require rental units, and more than 30,300 households seek rent-to-own or social housing. Most workers currently rent rooms in informal residential areas, which often have cramped conditions, inadequate infrastructure, and fire safety risks.

Mr. Thao stated that with a common income of about 7-10 million VND per month, workers must balance rent, living expenses, child-rearing, and education. Therefore, the housing challenge involves not only the sale price but also monthly affordability, making appropriately priced rental housing a significant need.

Vinh Loc B resettlement area, Tan Vinh Loc commune. *Photo: Quynh Tran*

Beyond the Vinh Loc B housing conversion proposal, the Ho Chi Minh City Confederation of Labor has signed agreements with 9 businesses to develop approximately 128,000 housing units by 2030. The Labor Union plans to monitor progress, connect businesses, and coordinate in resolving obstacles to ensure these projects move beyond mere commitments.

One of the mentioned projects is Hoa Sen An Ha in Tan Vinh Loc commune, comprising 1,853 apartments. Its documentation is largely complete, with groundbreaking anticipated in Quarter IV.

The Ho Chi Minh City Confederation of Labor recommends that the city continue applying a "green lane" mechanism to prioritize streamlining investment procedures. It also suggests implementing a linkage model among the Labor Union, project developers, and employers. The organization further proposes using digital data to identify needs, publicize project information, and ensure housing reaches the intended beneficiaries, thereby limiting the 'ask-give' mechanism (a term referring to a system prone to favoritism or corruption).

Le Tuyet