The EPZ workforce is very small. There are only 1,200 EPZ workers right now. The factory owners look foryoung, healthy and unskilled workers to whom they can pay the lowest wages. Some factories do not allow workers to marry or to have children. Most of the workers are from the urban areas.
Most factories are joint ventures with Vietnamese participants.
The union is trying to leam from the mistakes and successes of other Southeast Asian countries with foreign enterprises. The VGCL recognises the leading role of the Communist Party and some of the union's leaders are members of the Party. While party policies on labour issues and investment often reflects the VGCL's interests, the situation for workers in EPZs is difficult. The factories are dusty, hot, and humid. Foreign companies often offer higher wages, but, according to a recent surveybytheMinistry of labour,workers find that the work in these companies is more demanding.