According to labour ministry data, the leather and footwear sector in Vietnam has reported a 51.7% worker shortage, while garment makers report a lack of 49.2% of workers, reports ILM.

Workers have been fleeing Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring industrial provinces after continued lockdowns and restrictions in response to an outbreak of the Covid-19 Delta variant.

While the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (Lefaso) fights rumours of Nike moving production out of the country, leather goods manufacturers have reported a swathe of customers cancelling orders and demanding compensation.