Companies look to absorb 1,600 workers laid off after HCMC-based Danish shoe factory closes

At least 12 companies are looking to hire the 1,600 workers at ECCO Vietnam's factory in Ho Chi Minh City after the Danish enterprise shut shop this week. Representatives of several companies visited the headquarters of ECCO in the Bau Bang Industrial Park on Tuesday to distribute leaflets and apprise workers about job openings.They are looking to hire general workers, technicians, administrative staff, and human resources personnel, with some companies offering immediate employment.Truong Van Phong, deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (Hepza), said at least 12 companies have registered to recruit workers after ECCO Vietnam announced its dissolution.They are in fact seeking to fill more than 5,600 positions. The factory of ECCO Vietnam in Bau Bang Industrial Park in Bau Bang Commune of Ho Chi Minh City, Nov. 3, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/An Phuong Ampacs International Co. Ltd. Alone needs 2,000 workers, Paihong Vietnam wants 1,000, and Cycletech Vietnam has 700 openings.Diamond Vietnam, Waytex Vietnam International, and Hailex Vietnam Technology are each looking for 300 workers, while T.O.P Outdoor Vina, Kammi Vina, and Arneplant Vietnam each have 200 vacancies.The remaining three companies are Fine Chemical Vietnam, Chervon Vietnam Industrial, and Leeda Vietnam, which need 100-180 candidates.According to publicly available information, Chervon offers general workers VND250,000 (US$9.50) per day (eight hours of working) and VND310,000 for a night shift. Overtime is VND41,000 per hour and the monthly attendance bonus is VND260,000.Some technical and quality control positions are advertised at monthly salaries of VND15-25 million.Ampacs is recruiting material control staff at salaries of VND12-16 million, while some administrative and human resources positions offer VND11-14 million.Paihong is hiring technicians specializing in textile production, dyeing, and quality testing at salaries of VND12-20 million. Hepza has asked ECCO Vietnam to facilitate recruitment activities by other companies at its factory.The city will coordinate with trade unions and local authorities to bring together the ECCO workers with prospective employers.At a meeting on the same morning with officials from Hepza and trade unions and local authorities, ECCO said it would pay the workers full November wages though the factory suspended operations Monday and they are no longer required to work.It will also pay a 13th-month salary and additional compensation equivalent to half a month's basic salary for each year of service.Tran Ngoc Huyen, 30, who has worked at ECCO for five years, said she expects to receive a total of 4.5 months' salary, including 2.5 months of compensation, full November salary, and the 13th-month salary.She has a young child at school in Bau Bang Commune, and so plans to find another job in the same area soon.ECCO, owned by ECCO Sko A/S, used to make footwear and had 1,611 workers, including 259 employed by outsourcing contractors.It blamed the decision to close on economic difficulties, years of declining demand, and excess capacity across its global plants.ECCO Group is restructuring and focusing on expanding production in Denmark and at some other locations.