Promoting labor resources to work abroad

These figures also show that the policy of sending workers abroad not only solves the unemployment problem for the people but also contributes to the goal of promoting socio -economic development...

Vietnamese workers go through immigration procedures at Incheon Airport, South Korea. (Illustrative image)

Impressive numbers

Thien Loc, a purely agricultural commune in Can Loc district ( Ha Tinh province ), has a population of over 7,500 people. Currently, 1,367 of its residents are working abroad, mainly in markets such as Germany, France, the Czech Republic, South Korea, and Japan.

Besides Thien Loc commune, many localities in Ha Tinh province also have a large number of people working abroad. Over the past 10 years, Ha Tinh has had 80,557 people working abroad under contract, averaging over 7,500 people per year. In 2023 alone, more than 12,000 people from Ha Tinh went to work in various countries and territories, mainly in traditional labor markets such as Taiwan (China), Japan, and South Korea.

According to the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Ha Tinh province, the average annual amount paid to workers abroad under contract reaches 6,800 - 7,000 billion VND. Of this, over 4,000 billion VND is sent back to Vietnam as foreign currency, significantly contributing to economic development, the establishment of businesses and cooperatives, investment support for poverty reduction programs, rural development, and the implementation of social welfare policies in the province.

In the coming period, Ha Tinh province aims to send approximately 8,000 workers abroad each year. Besides traditional markets, the province will expand its market to countries such as Germany, Russia, Australia, Israel, and other European countries.

In Thai Binh province, the promotion of sending local workers abroad has yielded significant socio-economic results in recent years. Annually, the province receives over 83 million USD in foreign exchange through commercial banks, equivalent to 1,992 billion Vietnamese Dong. The majority of returning workers possess strong work skills, good foreign language proficiency, a strong work ethic, and a professional demeanor, especially those returning from Japan and South Korea, who are readily employed by domestic businesses.

Recently, Thai Binh province has been piloting a program to send workers to South Korea for seasonal employment, in accordance with Government Resolution No. 59/NQ-CP and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs' Official Letter No. 2188/LĐTBXH-QLLĐNN. Three districts – Quynh Phu, Vu Thu, and Kien Xuong – have sent 105 workers to South Korea for seasonal work. Some exemplary workers, meeting the required standards, have had their employment contracts renewed by South Korean employers. This demonstrates that the image and quality of Vietnamese labor in general, and Thai Binh labor in particular, are gradually improving, building trust with foreign employers.

It's not just the two provinces of Ha Tinh and Thai Binh. Sending Vietnamese workers abroad has been a correct policy of the Party and State for many years. Priority is given to sending workers to potential markets in safe, suitable, and high-paying occupations; priority is also given to sending workers from disadvantaged areas and those from socially disadvantaged groups to work in these markets. At the same time, the goal is to stabilize and maintain existing markets, and develop and expand high-paying markets that match the skills and qualifications of Vietnamese workers.

In 2023 alone, Vietnam sent over 159,000 workers abroad under contract, exceeding the annual plan by 33.3%. This is the highest number of workers going abroad in over 10 years. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has also promoted sending workers abroad through non-profit programs and disseminated information to many people and workers, including the poor in particularly disadvantaged communes. At the same time, it has promoted negotiations to expand the range of occupations and labor markets with partners in South Korea, Germany, and Australia to broaden the market for the coming years…

In 2024, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs aims to send 125,000 workers abroad under contract, focusing on key, traditional markets such as Japan, Taiwan (China), and South Korea. Notably, the continued increase in demand for foreign labor in South Korea, Japan, and Germany is a favorable factor, creating a foundation for the implementation of programs this year and in subsequent years.

As shared by the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Dao Ngoc Dung, at a recent National Assembly session: In accordance with the Law on sending Vietnamese workers abroad, an average of 120,000 to 143,000 Vietnamese people go to work abroad each year. This overseas labor force generates an average annual benefit of 3.5 to 4 billion USD for the country.

Strengthening labor management

According to the Department of Overseas Labor Management (Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs), based on data reported by businesses, the total number of Vietnamese workers going to work abroad in March 2024 was 12,738. In the first quarter of 2024, a total of 35,933 workers went to work abroad under contract. Japan and Taiwan (China) continued to be the main markets receiving Vietnamese workers. Besides these two major markets, Vietnamese workers also went to work in South Korea, China, Singapore, Romania, Thailand, Macao (China), Saudi Arabia, Hungary, and other markets…

Despite positive results, Vietnamese workers abroad face numerous problems, including contract violations (absconding) and illegal residency in countries and territories such as South Korea, Taiwan (China), and Japan. The purpose of absconding and illegal residency is to stay abroad longer and earn higher incomes than those under contract.

Faced with this situation, in 2023, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs had to issue a notice temporarily suspending the recruitment of workers to work in South Korea under the Employment Permit System for Foreign Workers (EPS) program, phase 1 of 2023, for 8 districts, towns, and cities in 4 provinces, because the rate of workers whose contracts had expired but had not returned home had still not decreased.

In Romania, where nearly 11,000 Vietnamese workers are employed, the country enjoys stable incomes and is considered a key, potential market with streamlined visa procedures and a high demand for foreign workers. However, recently, there have been cases of workers abandoning their contracts to work illegally or being lured by unscrupulous individuals into illegal migration to other countries, negatively impacting the image of Vietnamese workers there. In early 2024, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs issued a document requesting businesses to seriously address this situation.

One of the requirements for businesses sending Vietnamese workers to Romania is to provide orientation education, informing workers about the risks of abandoning their contracts and their responsibility to comply with the laws of the host country. In particular, businesses should review the list of runaway workers by hometown to identify areas with a high number of workers abandoning contracts and fleeing to third countries, in order to develop appropriate recruitment plans for subsequent recruitment drives.

In particular, the Government recently issued a plan to implement Directive No. 20-CT/TW of the Party Central Committee on strengthening the Party's leadership over the work of sending Vietnamese workers abroad in the new situation. This plan not only develops a strategy for sending Vietnamese workers abroad, but also focuses on solutions to improve workers' awareness of law compliance to prevent and limit violations of the law and illegal residency by workers abroad; and strengthens the mechanism for timely and effective information coordination on issues arising for workers working abroad.

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