A national symposium was held in Hanoi on December 17, aiming to improve Vietnam ’s capacity in the implementation of national and ASEAN initiatives strengthening protection for migrant workers via legal assistance systems.

The event, jointly held by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the International Organisation of Migration, is in response to International Migrants Day (December 18).

According to delegates, with more than 500,000 overseas workers in more than 40 countries and territories in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and America, Vietnam has made efforts in issuing policies and laws to protect its citizens abroad.

Most of the workers are employed in a stable manner with their rights being ensured following the labour contracts, they noted.

The action plan and the recommendations adopted by the sixth ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour were introduced at the event.

The delegates also discussed the implementation of the recommendations at a national level, especially those focusing on a complaint mechanism and how to deal with grievances effectively to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese workers overseas.

The ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers to which Vietnam is a signatory affirms the workers’ right to access to a legal and judicial assistance system. Thus, it is necessary to discuss measures to support migrant workers in this field, delegates said.-VNA