The dream of a better life and the traps of labor export scams.

Working abroad offers a chance for a better life, but if naive and trusting, many people can lose all their money and fall into increasingly sophisticated scams on social media.

Working abroad under contract is seen as a life-changing opportunity for many Vietnamese workers, not only providing higher incomes but also contributing to improved living standards. However, in recent times, many unlicensed businesses, lacking the authority to send workers abroad, have brazenly organized recruitment, collected applications, and even collected money in various forms. After receiving the money, the contracts are not fulfilled, and workers are unable to go abroad as promised. They not only lose money but also lose trust.

On social media, many advertisements invite people to work abroad with attractive promises such as: 50% fee support, salaries from 80 to 100 million VND/month, no age limit, no requirement to learn the language or participate in training.

More worryingly, scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, especially on social media platforms. Many families have fallen into debt and hardship, with some feeling hopeless as their dreams of a better life have been shattered.

Mr. Tran Quang Thanh, a member of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Association of Labor Export, stated: "Many individuals are exploiting labor export policies for personal gain and defrauding workers. This situation has existed for many years, with increasingly sophisticated methods."

Mr. Tran Quang Thanh, a member of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Association of Labor Export Companies, shared information about recent forms of labor export fraud.

According to Mr. Thanh, there are three common forms of fraud. Firstly, organizations and individuals without licenses to operate in the field of labor export still recruit workers. They may have connections with foreign contacts and exploit this to gain the trust of workers, collecting documents and money. However, due to a lack of legal standing, they cannot process the necessary paperwork for workers to leave the country.

Secondly, some recruitment officers or collaborators of licensed companies exploit job order information to collect money from workers for personal gain. After gathering enough money, they cut off contact and abscond.

Thirdly, online scams via social media are on the rise recently. Scammers often spread false information, exploiting the desire of workers for quick and low-cost employment to steal their money.

Many workers fall into deep debt after being scammed, while the legal representative of the labor export company suddenly "disappears" and cannot be contacted.

Alarmingly, many people in remote areas, where access to information is limited, are the most vulnerable group. They not only lose money but also fall into a cycle of debt.

"Local authorities need to play a more proactive role in disseminating information and guiding people. When needed, workers should verify with the People's Committee of the commune or ward, or the Department of Labor, to find out if the business they intend to register with has a license," Mr. Thanh recommended.

According to statistics from the Department of Overseas Labor Management, nearly 160,000 Vietnamese people go to work abroad under contract each year, bringing the total number of workers currently employed in more than 40 countries and territories to approximately 700,000.

Labor export is an opportunity for many people to improve their income, provide for their families, and change their lives through their own labor. Currently, there are about 450 licensed enterprises nationwide that send workers abroad, and this number is expected to increase as market demand continues to expand.

However, it is precisely this legitimate desire that has led many to fall into scams. In just the past few months, numerous cases have been prosecuted, with countless workers losing money, opportunities, and even falling into deep debt.

"For domestic organizations or individuals, when reported and investigated by authorities, they will be dealt with according to the law, even facing criminal prosecution. However, in reality, many workers are too trusting and do not thoroughly check the legal status of the recruiters, only reporting the fraud after being scammed. At that point, investigation and prosecution become much more difficult because time has passed and the evidence is no longer clear. Especially with online scams, verifying the identity of the perpetrators is even more complex, requiring close coordination between authorities and timely reporting from the public," Mr. Thanh added.

The legal representative, who is also the director of this company, admitted that the business does not have a license to send workers abroad under contract, but only acts as an intermediary, finding workers for other entities and receiving a commission on each case.

Besides traditional markets such as Taiwan (China), Japan, and South Korea, Vietnam is now expanding into many European countries such as Romania, Hungary, Poland, Finland, and Germany, while also promoting access to the US and Canadian markets and gradually developing in Australia and New Zealand. Since the beginning of the year, many new agreements have been signed, creating more job opportunities for Vietnamese workers.

"The Vietnam Association of Labor Export Companies has repeatedly issued warnings and coordinated with legitimate businesses to disseminate official information to workers. At the same time, the Association has also requested that management agencies and the media intensify efforts to publicize signs of fraud so that people can recognize them early," Mr. Thanh shared.

For many people in underprivileged rural areas, working abroad is a gateway to a better life. However, that gateway also carries significant risks if trust is misplaced.

We live in an era where a single click can open up the world or lead to increasingly sophisticated scams. Therefore, before even thinking about visas or flights, everyone needs to equip themselves with knowledge and vigilance. This is the first "safe passport" for a sustainable career journey in a foreign land.

vtv.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/giac-mo-doi-doi-va-nhung-chiec-bay-lua-dao-xuat-khau-lao-dong-post400503.html