Strengthening coordination to protect the rights and interests of Vietnamese workers working abroad

Over the past period, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has actively implemented many measures to raise awareness, ensure safe migration, and protect the rights and interests of Vietnamese workers working abroad.

Mr. Le Hoang Ha, specialist in the Legal and General Affairs Department, Department of Overseas Labor Management, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, speaks at a training course on safe migration and protection of Vietnamese citizens abroad. (Photo: Tuan Viet)

Speaking to the World & Vietnam Newspaper on the sidelines of the training course on safe migration and protection of Vietnamese citizens abroad (June 25-26), Mr. Le Hoang Ha, specialist in the Legal and General Affairs Department, Department of Overseas Labor Management, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, affirmed that the Ministry regularly inspects and checks the work of supporting and managing Vietnamese workers abroad to ensure the rights and interests of citizens.

Could you please tell us about the key tasks of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in sending Vietnamese workers abroad under contract, and the current forms of sending workers abroad?

Currently, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs is accelerating the implementation of tasks assigned in Resolution No. 225/NQ-CP dated December 31, 2023, of the Government on the issuance of the Plan for implementing Directive No. 20-CT/TW dated December 12, 2022, of the Central Party Secretariat of the 13th Party Congress on strengthening the Party's leadership over the work of sending Vietnamese workers abroad in the new situation, including key tasks such as:

Firstly , diversify the countries/territories where Vietnamese workers go to work, aiming at countries/territories with good working conditions, stable income and jobs suitable to the physical and strengths of Vietnamese workers.

Strengthen negotiations towards signing labor cooperation agreements with these countries/territories to create a favorable and transparent legal framework for workers during the process of migrating and working abroad.

Secondly , strengthen orientation education for workers before they go to work abroad; focusing on disseminating information about the laws and customs of the country/territory where the workers will be employed; and raising workers' awareness of complying with the law and regulations of their workplace.

Regularly update the curriculum with new knowledge and legal information.

Thirdly , strengthen digital transformation and the application of information technology in the field of Vietnamese workers going to work abroad. Aim to implement all administrative procedures in this field electronically; digitize orientation education materials so that workers can easily access and store them throughout the migration process.

Regarding the current forms of Vietnamese workers going to work abroad, as stipulated in the Law on Vietnamese Workers Going to Work Abroad, these include: working abroad under contracts with public service units in accordance with international agreements; and working abroad under contracts or written agreements with businesses, organizations, or individuals.

Businesses, organizations, and individuals may include the following entities: Vietnamese businesses providing services for sending Vietnamese workers abroad under contract; Vietnamese businesses that win bids or undertake projects abroad; Vietnamese businesses that send Vietnamese workers abroad for training and skill development; Vietnamese organizations and individuals investing abroad; and those working abroad under labor contracts directly concluded with foreign employers.

Overview of the training session on protecting Vietnamese citizens abroad on June 26. (Photo: Tuan Viet)

In recent times, what measures has the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs taken to raise awareness and ensure safe migration for Vietnamese workers going to work abroad?

Currently, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has implemented many activities to raise awareness among workers. Specifically, we are strengthening the provision of accurate, timely, and widespread information to workers.

All information on businesses granted licenses to provide services for sending Vietnamese workers abroad is published on the electronic portal of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Department of Overseas Labour Management.

Information such as the company's head office address, legal representative, website, and phone number are all listed online. Workers and their relatives can look up information about the company's operations before making decisions about working abroad.

In addition, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, in coordination with relevant agencies at the central and local levels, handles organizations and individuals suspected of fraud and illegal recruitment of workers for overseas employment. We also widely disseminate information about the handling and penalties imposed on violating organizations and individuals to increase deterrence.

In addition, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs also coordinates with media agencies to provide full and accurate information about the labor market and state policies in supporting Vietnamese workers to work abroad under contract; and develops sections and programs to share good examples, successes, and experiences of Vietnamese workers when working abroad.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs also regularly organizes training courses to improve the capacity of officials and specialized agencies on labour in localities.

The Department of Overseas Labor Management, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, in coordination with the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, organized a departure ceremony for nursing and caregiving candidates going to work in Japan on June 4th in Hanoi. (Source: Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs)

What role does the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs play in protecting the rights and interests of Vietnamese workers employed abroad?

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs is assigned by the Government as the agency responsible for the state management of Vietnamese workers going to work abroad. The protection of workers' rights and interests is carried out through the management of organizations and businesses that send workers to work overseas.

Therefore, the task of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs is to review and inspect working conditions and benefits for workers before they leave; and to regularly inspect and check the support and management of workers by service enterprises.

In several countries/territories with a large number of Vietnamese workers, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assign officials to participate in the Management Boards for Vietnamese Workers Abroad. Currently, there are six such boards in Japan, Taiwan (China), South Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Malaysia.

For countries/territories without a Labor Management Board, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs regularly coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions to exchange professional issues and update legal information related to the work of Vietnamese workers working abroad.

Thank you!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tang-cuong-phoi-hop-bao-ve-quyen-va-loi-ich-cua-lao-dong-viet-nam-lam-viec-o-nuoc-ngoai-276482.html