Licenses are required yearly for each commodity to be exported, although the permits required in the past for each shipment have been dropped. Around 25 percent of the state budget comes directly from import taxes. Despite relatively high literacy, foreign employers often note the work force requires extensive training. Few workers in Vietnam, government ministers included, have much experience working in a Western business environment. Many new recruits for factory jobs come straight from the countryside.
Vietnamese workers are eager to learn and perform well in many work situations.
The country has experienced a number of strikes at foreign-run plants in recent years, but this seems to be the result more of foreign management misconduct than of a fractious labor union situation. Vietnam's infrastructure is improving slowly but still is basically deficient and, in many cases, dilapidated and obsolete. Specifically, Vietnam's roads, bridges, railroads, airports, power generation plants, shipping, sea ports, telecommunications, schools, hospitals, and government buildings are in poor condition or need to be increased substantially. With help from bilateral and multilateral donors, Vietnam has made improving its infrastructure a major economic priority. All rights under foreign copyright laws are reserved.