The year 2012 offers many opportunities for Vietnam to send workers abroad, according to the Overseas Labour Management Department under the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

According to the department, economies in Japan , the Republic of Korea , Taiwan and Malaysia are still growing and have high demand for foreign workers, including Vietnamese labourers.

After Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited Japan late last year, Japan agreed to receive Vietnamese nurses and hospital orderlies, giving Vietnamese workers opportunities to earn high income and respect.

Meanwhile, the Republic of Korea will receive 15,000 Vietnamese workers. Of them, 11,700 will work in the manufacturing sector; 1,000 in the construction sector; 1,000 in the agricultural sector and 1,300 in fisheries.

Malaysia highly appreciates hard-working Vietnamese workers and has strong demand for foreign workers in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, services and domestic work.

About 140 enterprises are permitted to send workers to Malaysia and have so far sent 200,000 workers.

Head of the Overseas Labour Management Department Nguyen Ngoc Quynh said that after a suspension period, Libya is expected to receive Vietnamese workers from June to serve their national reconstruction.

Based on these optimistic signals, Vietnam has set a target of sending 90,000 workers abroad this year.

Vietnam will strengthen vocational training for workers in the health care and service sectors in order to meet demand in traditional markets.

The country will also study and develop new markets for seasonal work, including Australia , New Zealand , Canada , Finland and Sweden .

According to the department, in 2011 more than 88,000 Vietnamese workers were sent to work in nearly 40 countries and territories, mostly in the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Malaysia./.