Many Vietnamese labourers continue working in the Republic of Korea (RoK) despite of their expired labour contracts, heard a workshop in Hanoi on May 7.

The workshop, jointly held by the Department for Overseas Labour Management and the Overseas Labour Centre, reviewed measures to solve the situation, particularly reducing the number of labourers from the 11 provinces with the highest number of people working in the RoK, whose employment contracts expired in 2012 or 2013.

According to the Department for Overseas Labour Management, communications activities over the recent period have raised local authorities’ awareness in encouraging Vietnamese workers in the RoK to return home when their contracts end.

These activities demonstrated Vietnam’s efforts to reduce the rate of workers with expired contracts in the RoK as well as called for Korean employers to take responsibility and help decrease the illegal residence of Vietnamese labourers.

Participants assessed that localities’ great and strict efforts are necessary to reduce the rate of labourers living illegally overseas, creating the foundation for the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labour to sign the memorandum of understanding to continue receiving Vietnamese workers within the framework of the Employment Permit System (EPS) programme.

In the coming time, the Department for Overseas Labour Management and the Overseas Labour Centre (OLC) will propose the Government issue a decree on fining labourers who have expired labour contracts and continue working illegally in foreign countries, with a fine valued up to 100 million VND (approximately 5,000 USD).

Accordingly, OLC representative offices will also be set up to better support issues that arise with those working overseas.

In addition, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Welfares will propose the RoK side change the way it pays allowances to Vietnamese workers when they stop working, which should be implemented after they have returned to their home country, as well as punish employers who use illegal labourers.-VNA