Hanoi (VNA)🔯 - The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) has expanded a number of overseas markets in Australia and Europe this year to send guest labourers, with the positions providing good income and working conditions.

The number of workers sent to work abroad averages over 150,000 people per year. In particular, workers have enjoyed more opportunities to work in markets with attractive incomes and good welfare benefits.

Sending more than 150,000 workers abroad

Statistics released by MoLISA showed that Vietnam sent 143,160 workers abroad in the first 11 months of this year, surpassing the yearly target by 14%. Therefore, the country is likely to send more than 150,000 labourers to work abroad for the whole 2024. Currently, Vietnamese guest workers enter a variety of industries, including manufacturing (mechanical, textile, garment, leather shoes, electronic assembly), construction, agriculture, fisheries (fishing and aquaculture) and services (care for the elderly, the sick, domestic help). Their working and living conditions, and welfare are well guaranteed. The income of workers is quite high and stable, ranging from 1,200-1,600 USD per month in the Japanese and Korean markets; 800-1,200 USD per month in Taiwan (China) and European countries; from 700-1,000 USD per month for skilled workers, and from 500-600 USD/month for unskilled workers in the Middle East and African markets. Since 2017, Japan has received its highest number of workers from Vietnam. Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan said that in recent years, the number of Vietnamese workers going to work in Japan accounts for over 50% of the total number of labourers going to work abroad every year. The programme that involves sending and receiving Vietnamese interns and workers to Japan has seen remarkable development. Currently, many programmes and projects such as the Technical Internship Programme, the Special Skilled Labour Programme, and the Programme to bring Vietnamese nurses and midwives to work in Japan under the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA) have been implemented by the MoLISA in coordination with the Japanese side and have achieved many results. In order to strengthen cooperation in labour and human resources training, Hoan said that the MoLISA has proposed Japanese authorities soon launch negotiations to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on dispatching and receiving workers under the Labour Training Programme.

The ministry also requested Japan organise exams for specified skilled workers in two occupations: restaurant service, and food and beverage production because these are professions that many Vietnamese workers want. The Vietnamese side has provided the Japanese side with survey information on the need for specific skills tests in these two fields in Vietnam. Vietnam sends the most international workers to Japan. Therefore, Vietnam and Japan are implementing a labour market information project for migrant workers through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to increase transparency in the recruitment process and prevent the illegal collection of fees by intermediaies. The project is expected to be completed in 2025.

More high-income job opportunities

In addition to traditional labour markets such as Taiwan, Japan and the Republic of Korea, the MoLISA has continued to develop a number of labour markets in Europe. Currently, the number of workers in these markets is limited, but working conditions and income are relatively good. Hoan affirmed that the European region is always considered a key market, with a need to receive a large number of foreign workers, including Vietnamese labourers. Vietnamese workers have initially created a solid reputation and brand in the international labour market. The MoLISA is also promoting the development of a number of potential new markets, creating new opportunities for workers when choosing to work abroad.

Australia is a good labour market with attractive incomes. The MoLISA has launched the Labour Mobility Arrangement between Australia and Vietnam. Under the programme, the Australian Government will allow up to 1,000 Vietnamese workers into the agricultural sector in Australia at the same time. Vietnamese workers participating in the programme can work short-term jobs (from 6 to 9 months) or long-term jobs (from 1 to 4 years). Jobs open to Vietnamese workers are low to semi-skilled in farming, meat processing, fisheries (including aquaculture) and forestry. Workers are paid an Australian minimum wage of 24 AUD per hour, with a weekly salary of about 915 AUD and a monthly salary of 3,660 AUD, equivalent to more than 60 million VND. According to the MoLISA, the authorities continue to inspect businesses that send workers abroad under contract, to protect legal rights and workplace quality. There has positive recovery in the overseas labour market in recent months, creating new jobs with high income for workers./.