Construction contractor in Da Nang cries because he can't find bricklayers

Many construction projects in Da Nang face double difficulties as sand prices continue to rise and labor shortages cause delays.

A private housing construction project in Lien Chieu, Da Nang - Photo: BD

Many businesses say that in the past two months, it has been very difficult to find construction workers. Contractors have increased wages but it is still difficult to find enough workers.

Construction workers are deserted at many construction sites in Da Nang.

On the morning of June 16, the beginning of the week, the owner of a private construction project in Phuoc Ly urban area (Da Nang) only had 5 workers working.

Although construction has been underway for more than 4 months, the contractor said the progress has been delayed compared to the contract, due to many recent difficulties such as increased material prices and construction workers.

"The construction sites in Da Nang mainly employ manual workers from Dien Ban and Dai Loc (Quang Nam province). Previously, we recruited people from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces... but since the beginning of the year, we have not been able to recruit anyone from other provinces," said Mr. Ho Phuoc Bau, a construction contractor in Cam Le district.

In large projects, many contractors are also struggling with the lack of workers. Projects face a double challenge when sand prices are high and workers are scarce. Many construction companies and contractors are forced to find every way, but the number of workers is not enough to meet the demand.

Bricklayers working at a construction site in Da Nang - Photo: BD

Mr. Nguyen Viet Khue, director of PKC Da Nang Construction Company Limited, said his company maintains about 20-30 workers per day on construction sites, but in the past 2 months, many construction workers have quit their jobs.

"There are too many projects this year. Not only bricklayers but also workers in the construction industry such as ceiling workers, interior designers, waterproofers... are constantly running around. Project prices have increased a lot but progress must be pushed to meet the contract. We are losing money but it is really difficult to find workers" - Mr. Khue lamented.

Similarly, Mr. Dang Van Khanh, director of A Thanh Construction Company (Quang Nam), also said that the company is operating at a standstill due to a lack of labor.

"Because I had no work before, the workers moved to work elsewhere, so I can't call them back now. This year, business is really difficult, sand prices have increased, and bricks have also increased" - Mr. Khanh acknowledged this unusual fact as a consequence of a process.

Da Nang is like a big construction site

For the past two years, many large construction projects have started all over Da Nang City, making the whole place look like a construction site. Lien Chieu and Hoa Vang districts have the most large public investment projects and are under construction the most.

Small construction businesses say that the simultaneous construction of many large projects has caused a shortage in the labor market.

Meanwhile, in the past, Da Nang City had many masons from Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa ... coming to work, but now these provinces also have a lot of work so the supply is in short supply.

Da Nang's construction industry is facing consecutive difficulties - Photo: BD

"Currently, the salary for a bricklayer's assistant is about 380,000 - 450,000 VND/day; for a construction worker it is about 500,000 VND/day, but we accept to pay more but still cannot find people" - Mr. Nguyen Viet Khue provided the figures.

To solve the labor shortage, businesses said they had to ask people to go to the countryside to find workers and pay "commissions" to contractors, but the results were still not very promising.

Construction sand prices in Da Nang remain high

After the shocking price increase of construction sand in Da Nang, for many consecutive weeks, the authorities of Quang Nam and Da Nang have taken drastic measures to check the sand supply to the market.

In Quang Nam, on June 5, a large sand mine in Dai Loc district was resumed after a period of suspension. The supply of sand to the market has gradually stabilized, but the price of construction sand is still very high.

A survey at some construction agencies on the morning of June 16 showed that the price of sand for construction and plastering is currently at 780,000 - 800,000 VND/cubic meter. For projects located in alleys, lanes, and at long distances, the price of sand is much higher.

Thai Ba Dung

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chu-thau-xay-dung-o-da-nang-khoc-rong-vi-khong-tim-duoc-tho-ho-20250616110932581.htm