Cultivating High-Quality Human Resources for Traditional Crafts

The growth of craft villages in Hanoi has been an important driving force for preserving cultural heritage and revitalizing the rural economy, creating jobs and improving living standards. However, many villages struggle with a shortage of skilled and young workers, a challenge that must be addressed to ensure their continued success.

A young worker at a garment entity in Phu Xuyen district

The capital Hanoi is the political, economic and cultural center and also the “cradle of crafts” of the country. Currently, Hanoi has 1,350 craft villages, converging 47 out of 52 traditional crafts in Vietnam. The city is also home to many "craft ancestors". Craft villages in Hanoi have produced many products of economic and cultural value. Many products have special value and are recognized as national treasures. In particular, from a very early age, Hanoi was a place where many traditional crafts converged. Typical examples include Hang Bac silversmith street, Bat Trang ceramic village and Chuong hat village.

Craft villages have created job opportunities and income for people, not only people of working age but also the elderly and people with disabilities. They also provide suitable jobs to earn extra income for families. Currently, Hanoi is home to around 100 craft villages generating annual revenues of VND10-20 billion each, nearly 70 villages with revenues of VND20-50 billion, and about 20 villages exceeding VND50 billion. These craft villages significantly contribute to increasing the local budget revenue. The average income of workers in craft villages is much higher than that of purely agricultural workers

According to Phu Thanh Phat Garment Co., Ltd (in Van Tu, Phu Xuyen district), this commune is the only in the country to make suits. However, the main workforce mainly consists of older workers and farmers with insufficient formal training, largely passing down skills through a 'father-to-son' tradition. The source of highly qualified human resources remains limited, not enough to meet the sector’s needs. Therefore, the company proposed supporting vocational training programs to improve techniques and skills, encourage people to learn and work, and make traditional handicrafts.

The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said that vocational education and high-quality human resource training are always considered one of top development goals in Hanoi. Currently, the city has 312 vocational training institutions (including 66 colleges, 58 high schools, 37 vocational training centers, 18 continuing education centers, 133 enterprises, and other types).

In the digital age, young workers and skilled workers play a very important role in applying science and technology to production and innovating technology in craft villages to preserve and promote traditional local products on the one hand and improve quality, diversity and competitiveness of products in the market on the other. Therefore, in addition to opening up the consumer market and increasing incomes, attracting young, energetic and highly skilled workers, with focus on vocational training for the youth and village workers, plays a key role in effectively addressing human resource shortages and sustaining craft village development.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chi, Director of the Rural Development Department, said: According to the plan of the Hanoi People's Committee, the solution for human resource training is to effectively implement vocational training in line with the Vocational Training Program for rural workers, and strengthen the linkage of schools, vocational training centers, artisans and skilled craftsmen in vocational training. In addition, the city boosts technical knowledge training and new technological application to production and business management for business owners in craft villages. It opens training courses to improve qualifications and professional skills for workers at production facilities and craft villages.

In addition, the city focuses on honoring artisans, introduces support policies to maintain and develop the artisan force, encourages and motivates them to join vocational training and pass on their profession. It organizes craft fairs and handicraft competitions to honor, arouse and encourage artisans and skilled workers to maintain, preserve and develop the profession and create more valuable new products. The city confers and honors skilled workers, artisans, excellent artisans, people's artisans and typical craft village products. At the same time, it reviews and promulgates policies and procedures for honoring artisans, the groundwork for proposing the conferment of the title of excellent artisans and people's artisans.

Every year, based on the plan issued by the Hanoi People's Committee, the Rural Development Department launches 1-2 knowledge training courses for leaders of craft villages by selecting appropriate training contents and ensuring their access to Party and State policies on the development of craft villages and rural industries. Moreover, the department provides training in areas such as craft village environment, product branding, traceability, quality improvement, design, packaging and labeling to boost competitiveness. This support aims to enhance income for workers committed to continuing local traditional crafts.

By Dinh Bao, Vietnam Business Forum