Singaporean firms share experience in developing factory workers’ housing
Singaporean experts have shared experience in developing workers’ accommodations in industrial parks with Vietnam during a recent meeting with officials from the Ministry of Construction.
Workers' dormitories in an industrial park in Bac Ninh province. (File photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Singaporean experts have shared experiencein developing workers’ accommodations in industrial parks with Vietnam during a recentmeeting with officials from the Ministry of Construction.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Construction Nguyen ThanhNghi said his ministry pays particular attention to building housing for specialistsand workers at industrial parks.
The development of integrated urban-industrial models amid the COVID-19 pandemic must be done without disruptions to productionand supply chains as well as workers’ living quality, he said.
Siah Gim Lim, Senior Vice President of Singaporeanconsultancy company Surbana Jurong, said the island country is piloting thetransformation of existing industrial parks into worth-living industrial citieswhich comprise not only hi-tech industrial areas but also residential buildings,schools, office and commercial buildings and amusement parks, providing allkinds of services to residents.
A 4.0 industrial park integrated with residential andnon-industrial zones would smooth the way for production and prevent supplychains from being disrupted, even if there are COVID-19 outbreaks.
Jason Poh, Chairman of Centra Group, said most workers’housing projects in Singapore were built near production zones at industrialparks, offering all necessary technical, social infrastructure and urbanservices so any COVID-19 outbreaks can be quickly zoned off and contained withouteffecting workers’ life and production.
He suggested Vietnamese cities and provinces to corporate Singaporean experience in planning industrial parks amid complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic./.
Most industrial parks in the country, including in the southern key economic zone, lack housing for workers, said Phan Van Anh, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour.
Available social housing at present can provide stable accommodation for only about 28 percent of workers nationwide, which means the remaining 72 percent still have to rent rooms of private owners.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has recently issued a directive asking relevant ministries and localities to ensure stable jobs, improve life quality and working conditions of labourers, especially factory workers nationwide.
Vietnam’s national count of COVID-19 cases has crossed the milestone of 10,000 more than a month after the resurgence of the virus began in late April, wreaking havoc on multiple major industrial parks where thousands of factory workers have become infected.
The complex, covering a total area of 512 ha, is designed after a multi-functional model, prioritising the preservation of natural landscapes, honouring local beauty, and creating an ideal living area.
He requested delegates to provide objective and honest feedback on what has been achieved, what has not, the consequences, and draw lessons learned for the future. He also emphasised the need to identify key directions and tasks, with a firm resolve to prevent, and eventually eliminate the trafficking of counterfeit medicines and fake food products.
The Ministry of Finance is drafting policies to establish specialised AI and smart industrial parks to raise the technological profile of FDI projects and create spillover effects for local businesses.
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The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
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A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Workers' dormitories in an industrial park in Bac Ninh province. (File photo: VNA) 
