ASEAN is a promising market for Vietnam’s labour export thanks to cultural similarities and high demand for workforce.

According to the Deputy Head of the Overseas Labour Management Department under the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Dao Cong Hai, the differences among ASEAN countries in terms of education and labour skill levels have created flows of migrating labourers.

Of the Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia, Laos, Brunei and Singapore are major destinations for overseas workers, while the rest are labour exporters.

Hai further said that several ASEAN countries have high demand for male workers in the construction and industrial sectors and female workers in garments, electronics, health service, and housekeeping sectors which Vietnam is able to meet.

As a result, ASEAN is one of the key regions being able to receive a large number of Vietnamese guest workers. Currently, about 150,000 Vietnamese labourers are working in ASEAN countries, of whom 100,000 are in Malaysia. Besides, a number of skilled workers are working in Singapore and Brunei.

These markets offer stable, though not high income as compared to the Japanese and Republic of Korea markets. Besides, the working conditions also suit for Vietnamese workers, who only have average occupational skills.

To make full use of the ASEAN market, apart from improving workers’ professional and foreign language skill and expanding shares at current markets, the Overseas Labour Management Department is exploring Singapore and Brunei markets.

In addition, ASEAN’s target to develop a common labour market by 2015 will open up more opportunities for Vietnamese workers. Under the plan, a system of common professional standards will be applied for all ASEAN members. A common profession certificate will enable workers to work in any country in the region./.