The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affair said it plans to send 100,000 labourers to work overseas this year, an increase of 15 percent over last year.

Management will be tightened in localities to try and weed out cheating brokerage operators, the ministry said.

In addition, labourers with skills will be given preference to meet the demands of employers in Taiwan, Malaysia , the Republic of Korea and Japan . The market will also be expanded in Middle East countries.

By the end of December, 2011, Vietnam sent 88,299 workers to work overseas, representing an increase of 101.5 percent against the government’s set target.

According to the ministry’s Employment Department, as many as 81,000 foreigners are working in Vietnam . /.