Workers struggle to make a living.

The prolonged hot days interspersed with sudden rain showers make it even more difficult for many outdoor workers to earn a living. From delivery drivers and factory workers to lottery ticket vendors, everyone has to find ways to adapt in order to maintain their income.

The scorching heat makes the security work even more difficult. PHOTO: KHANH MY

On the central streets of Long Xuyen ward, the road surface is scorching hot under the midday sun. Pedestrians have to cover themselves with sun-protective clothing, masks, glasses, and gloves to avoid the heat. Nguyen Van Tai (62 years old), a security guard at a coffee shop on Nguyen Van Linh street in Long Xuyen ward, constantly wipes away sweat with a towel, even wrapping a wet face towel around his neck to cool down. A fan runs at full power and a large water bottle sits right where he is, but it's still not enough to dispel the heat radiating from the road surface. “Lunchtime is the hottest time, and I have to be on duty continuously, so I have little time to rest. I have to drink water frequently and use a wet towel to cool down. Sunny weather has its hardships, and rainy weather has its difficulties. These past few days, the weather has been alternating between sun and rain, making it easy to suffer from heatstroke, but for the sake of my livelihood, I have to adapt and try to maintain my health to continue working,” Mr. Tai shared.

Along with the hardships, many delivery drivers have to struggle against unpredictable weather. For them, scorching heat or heavy rain not only causes discomfort but also directly affects their health and work. When people limit going out due to bad weather, the number of orders increases, meaning that delivery drivers have to travel more.

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Tran Duc Ha (26 years old), residing in alley 90, Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Rach Gia Ward, works as a delivery driver. He said that to adapt to the unpredictable weather, he always equips himself with sun-protective clothing, sunglasses, a raincoat, a cover to protect his goods, and carries a large bottle of water. According to Mr. Ha, the weather has changed so rapidly in recent days that deliveries have been very difficult. Sometimes, it's sunny one moment and then suddenly pouring rain the next. If he doesn't have time to put on a raincoat, both he and his goods get soaked. Often, he stops his motorbike to put on a raincoat, and after driving a short distance, the sun comes out again. But just a few minutes later, another rainstorm comes. "Although sunny weather is hot and humid, deliveries are easier than rainy weather, so I usually try to deliver earlier, even working during my lunch break to prepare for prolonged rain. Despite the hardship, I still have to ensure timely deliveries; if I'm late, customers might give me a bad rating, affecting my income," Mr. Ha said.

Amidst the scorching summer sun, on the construction site of the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway section passing through the province, workers are still diligently working. Not only do they endure the heat from the sun, but they also face the heat radiating from the newly laid asphalt concrete. In these harsh conditions, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Nam, an asphalt paving machine operator in package 44, and his colleagues remain highly focused to ensure the quality and safety of the construction. “These past few days, the weather has been alternating between sun and rain. We have to take advantage of every favorable weather period to lay the asphalt, even working overtime at night to meet the deadline. The work is hard, but we cannot afford to be careless. Whether it's hot or rainy, everyone must remain focused because of the quality of the project,” Mr. Nam said.

According to Mr. Nam, road construction workers hope for long sunny days to speed up construction progress, especially during the asphalt paving phase. Although he knows that frequent exposure to dust and asphalt can affect his health, he has remained in the profession for over 20 years for the sake of his livelihood. “Newcomers often suffer from heat shock and dizziness. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years, so I’m used to the heat and the heat from the asphalt. The most important thing in this job is maintaining good health; even though it’s hard work, having a job is already a blessing,” Mr. Nam confided.

While scorching heat poses a significant challenge for outdoor workers, sudden rain showers also present considerable difficulties. At 66 years old, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu, residing at Alley 3, Le Quy Don Street, Rach Gia Ward, still stays up late and wakes up early every day to sell lottery tickets to make a living. Ms. Thu said that since the beginning of June, she has only dared to accept 100-120 lottery tickets per day, a decrease of 30-60 tickets compared to before, due to concerns about the unpredictable weather affecting sales. “Accepting fewer tickets means lower income, but accepting more means I'm afraid I won't be able to sell them all. These past few days, the weather has been erratic, making selling lottery tickets even harder. I take advantage of sunny days to sell, because if it rains and the tickets go unsold, it's very difficult,” Ms. Thu confided.

For outdoor workers, each workday is a day of adapting to harsh weather conditions. Behind those drops of sweat lie worries about making ends meet, responsibilities to their families, and hopes for a better life.

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KHANH MY

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nguoi-lao-dong-vat-va-muu-sinh-a488826.html