Supermarket woes in Vietnam
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A majority of staff in supermarkets and trading centres lack professional training, according to Vu Vinh Phu, chairman of the Ha Noi Supermarket Association.
Retail centres are on the rise, but they're facing a serious shortage of well-trained staff, he said. Organising training programmes for supermarket workers is not an easy task.
Some positions - salespersons, security guards and accountants - required short-term training, but key positions such as managers and deputy directors would take more time and expense, he said.
"There are more than 70 supermarkets and 50 trading centres in Ha Noi," he said. "This number will reach 1,000 by 2020. There are about 100 people working for each supermarket on average. Thus, to train 70 per cent of staff in the city means to train about 5,000 people."
Ngoc Thi, who works for Citimart's human resource office, said training made hiring workers difficult.
"It usually takes two months to train labourers for simple positions, such as salespersons, as most don't have professional skills in this field," she said.
"For higher positions, it's much more difficult, as apart from required professions, they must have work experience. They will have to work as interns for several months to prove their abilities. Those who perform inadequately will not be hired."
Due to these difficulties, people who met the requirements would be well-paid, Thi said.
Vu Khanh Long, a graduate of Ha Noi University of Theatre and Cinema, said he took a job at a fashion store in Vincom Mega Royal City while waiting to be hired in his chosen field.
"I began the job after a week of training," he said. "Three other salespersons at the shop are students. Only students accept the monthly wage of 1.8 million Vietnam dong (US$84)."
According to Phu, favourable working conditions and high salaries would attract more labourers to work and more students to study in the field. Supermarket and trading centres' staff must have enthusiasm, positive attitudes, honesty and work well on a team, he said.
As many as 50 enterprises in retail offered 1,000 sales, marketing, customer services, cashier and receptionist positions at a job transaction held last week.
