Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading in Tan Phu District has seen 85 percent of its 4,400 employees return to work since Oct. 4, a high ratio amid the labor shortage plaguing the country’s biggest city as workers, after losing their livelihoods for months, left for their hometowns after the lockdown was lifted on October 1.

The reason for this high rate is that the company’s policies made them feel secure, Nguyen Huu Tuan, its HR director, said.

In mid-July, when Thanh Cong got a limited number of employees working on-site as required by authorities, it still paid nearly 2,600 workers a minimum salary.

It also assisted them with paperwork to get government relief payments, financially assisted pregnant workers, those with young children and those who had contracted Covid-19.

After it resumed operations it paid the first week’s salary in advance besides VND1 million ($43.92) for each month workers were furloughed because of the pandemic.

"Workers, instead of packing their stuff and leaving the city, are told to install a travel tracking app on their phone and complete green pass requirements so they can return to work," Tuan said.

Workers have been leaving the city in droves as they are unable to pay rents and job prospects are uncertain after months of social distancing.