The ministry of labour, disability and social affairs in Vietnam recently has issued a statement saying that over 22,000 workers have been made unemployed due to economic crisis. This problem will continue in 2009. In 2008 alone in Vietnam 715 strikes took place. The number is estimated to go up again before Chinese Lunar New Year (end of January) 2009. Since October 2008, plant closures have been taking place in Vietnam, Silver Star Ltd. producing footwear closed down its plant in October 2008, causing 1,700 workers to lose their jobs. Four enterprises in Bin Tan district including Sunrising Kim Vina (a textile factory) closed down in October 2008 causing 2,000 job losses. In Bin Chan district, Ho Chi Minh City, 10 factories have been shut down claiming they could not pay wages. In Industrial Park enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City, 3,000 jobs have been slashed. A number of factories in Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone have been offering workers 70% of their salaries for rotational days off.

Sources: American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (www.amchamvietnam.com), 17 November 2008; Saigon GP Daily, 31 December 2008; AFP, 04 January 2009