Migrant workers are being scammed from both ends.

In her question to the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Dao Ngoc Dung, National Assembly representative Nguyen Thi Viet Nga (from Hai Duong province) stated that in recent years, the number of Vietnamese workers going to work abroad has increased rapidly. However, the number of workers deceived into going abroad for work through various schemes is also quite high, causing many serious consequences.

Minister Dao Ngoc Dung answered questions from National Assembly deputies regarding the issue of labor export fraud.

Representative Nguyen Thi Viet Nga asked: What are the causes of the situation where workers are deceived into going abroad for work, and what solutions will the Minister implement in the future?

Responding to a question from National Assembly representative Nguyen Thi Viet Nga, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung stated that in 2022, the total number of Vietnamese workers going to work abroad was 142,000. These workers were sent abroad by companies and businesses that were licensed to do so.

Currently, there are 482 licensed enterprises nationwide authorized to send workers abroad. Workers sent abroad through these licensed enterprises are rarely scammed. "The majority of workers who are scammed into working abroad do so through 'phantom' companies, companies not licensed to send workers abroad," Minister Dao Ngoc Dung stated.

However, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung stated that, in addition to the positive aspects, there are also some cases of people being deceived by the very businesses licensed to send workers abroad. In some cases, the deception occurs at both ends, with the Vietnamese company and the foreign company. On the Vietnamese side, workers are tricked into paying higher fees than the brokerage fee, or are deceived into working in fields unrelated to their training, leading to their return to the host country. On the foreign side, workers may be forced to work in jobs that do not match the agreed-upon terms, causing them to overstay their visas…

Scenes from the questioning session.

"Recently, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has imposed many penalties. In 2022, the Ministry's Inspectorate fined 62 businesses and revoked the licenses of 4 businesses," Minister Dao Ngoc Dung said.

Regarding solutions to address this situation, the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs stated that in the coming period, the ministry will implement a comprehensive set of solutions, ranging from public awareness campaigns to inspections, checks, and handling of violations…

Workers absconding abroad damage the country's image.

Regarding the issue of workers going abroad for work and then absconding, Representative Tran Quang Minh (Quang Binh Provincial National Assembly Delegation) stated that this affects the national image and impacts job opportunities for many workers who intend to participate in overseas labor export programs.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue presided over and conducted the questioning session.

Representative Tran Quang Minh stated that, despite existing regulations, the situation of workers going to work abroad and then absconding still occurs. The representative requested the Minister to propose solutions to address this issue.

Responding to a question from Representative Tran Quoc Minh, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung stated that the current situation of Vietnamese workers absconding after going to work abroad is not as pressing as it was in 2017. On June 6, 2017, also at the National Assembly forum, the Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs also answered questions from National Assembly representatives regarding the issue of Vietnamese workers absconding abroad.

At that time, the rate of Vietnamese workers absconding in South Korea reached 52.5%, forcing South Korea to halt the entire EPS program with Vietnam (EPS is a program for foreign workers in South Korea, where foreign workers enjoy the same benefits as Korean workers - PV).

The Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs answers questions before the National Assembly.

Subsequently, for four years, Vietnam persistently worked with South Korea to implement solutions such as deposit requirements; the South Korean side deported, and even prosecuted, foreign workers who absconded in South Korea (these measures were applied by South Korea to all workers from all countries, not just Vietnamese workers). At this point, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs had to temporarily suspend sending workers from 18 districts in 9 provinces to work in South Korea at the request of the South Korean side.

Thanks to the synchronized implementation of various solutions, the rate of Vietnamese workers absconding in South Korea has decreased to only 24.6%, placing Vietnam among the countries with the lowest rates of worker absconding. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs is continuing to coordinate with localities to better implement solutions to reduce the number of workers who go to work abroad and then abscond.

WIN