The Traditional Brickmaking Industry and the Rural Economy of Vietnam

This article analyzes the rural brickmaking industry in Vietnam. The article is based on the results of survey data collected from brick factory owners in 2000 and 2001 and uses this data to develop a model factory based on traditional brickmaking technology. It describes the labor processes associated with this technology, generates income estimates for the different categories of brickmaking jobs, and analyzes the importance of these incomes in the context of overall living standards and poverty levels in Vietnam. The article also looks at the continued ties of brick factory workers to the rural agricultural sector of the economy. It makes the argument that, in many important respects, the brickmaking industry is an ideal rural industry for the largely agricultural population of Vietnam: it is highly labor intensive, and its production schedule and labor processes fit well with the seasonal demands of the agricultural sector. However, because of environmental concerns and technological advances in both agriculture and industry, traditional brickmaking in Vietnam is also confronted with real threats to its survival over the next 10 years. The article looks at some of the potential consequences of the loss of this type of rural industry in terms of household income levels and living standards.