A Vietnamese nurse in Japan (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Hanoi (VNA) – Many European countries plan to recruit Vietnamese labourers in 2023, creating more opportunities for Southeast Asian workers to access high paying jobs and global work skills.
Longstanding labour markets, such as Japan and the Republic of Korea, will continue to attract Vietnamese workers, while young, skilled workers will also have the chance to work in countries such as Australia, Canada and Europe with monthly salaries in the tens of millions of Vietnamese dong (VND).
The Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) aims to send approximately 110,000 workers abroad for labour contracts this year.
More opportunities await
Japan is expected to receive the largest number of Vietnamese workers, with half of the country's overseas labourers already employed there.
During a visit to Japan last year, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung proposed adjustments to minimum salary levels and allowances for workers and trainees from Vietnam and other countries due to the weakening value of the Japanese yen (JPY).
The minister also suggested Japan consider accepting workers in various industries, such as hospitality and bus driver, and proposed tax exemptions for Vietnamese interns.
The Japanese government is reportedly adopting a policy to gradually expand the professions and fields available to foreign interns, especially those from Vietnam.
In addition to Japan, more European countries are interested in recruiting Vietnamese workers.
Canada is facing a shortage of labourers, particularly in the construction and healthcare industries. Canadian Minister of Trade and Export Development, Jeremy Harrison, recently expressed interest in bringing Vietnamese workers to Canada.
The Canadian side has been working with the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam to issue visas to qualified workers as soon as possible.
Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan said some businesses have received licences to implement contract signing to send nearly 100 Vietnamese workers to Canada.
He said: "Canada is assessed by businesses and employees to have a good working environment, offer high incomes, ensure stable life and care for social security."
Keijo Norvanto, Ambassador of Finland to Vietnam, said Finland's population is ageing, leading to a labour shortage, especially in agriculture and healthcare. Therefore, Finland needs to recruit foreign workers, including those from Vietnam, to prevent a labour shortage in the future.
Rantakokko, managing director of GreenFiVi Company, said from 2023 to 2027, the company plans to recruit 2,500 Vietnamese labourers to work in Finland in nursing care, local industry, and agro-forestry with salaries starting from 1,940 EUR (nearly 50 million VND) per month before extra-hour wages.
When labourers earn Finland's work certificate, their monthly salary will increase to 2,240 to 3,000 EUR (56-75.5 million VND) per month.
Meanwhile, in the second half of this year, Australia will receive 1,000 Vietnamese agricultural workers with salaries starting from 3,200-4,000 AUD (52-65 million VND) per month.
Deputy Minister Hoan highlighted the positive quality and quantity of Vietnamese labourers sent overseas.
The labour markets have been expanded, including traditional markets with good incomes and working conditions like Japan, RoK, Taiwan (China) and new markets like Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Czech and Romania.
Vietnamese labourers leaving Vietnam to work overseas. (Photo VietnamPlus)
Improving quality of Vietnamese workers
The MOLISA aims to send Vietnamese workers abroad to markets that offer high and stable incomes and explore new potential labour markets to increase the number of Vietnamese workers in European countries in new sectors.
Nguyen Gia Liem, deputy head of MOLISA's Department of Overseas Labour, said along with expanding overseas labour markets, improving the quality of overseas Vietnamese workers is also the department's focus in 2023. This helps enhance incomes and create the impression of Vietnamese workers in foreign markets.
He said the most significant challenges to Vietnamese workers are foreign languages and discipline, which directly affect labour quality.
He said that labourers who are good at local languages would have better jobs with higher incomes and avoid risks when negotiating with managers.
Vietnamese workers prepare documents to work in the Republic of Korea (Photo: Vietnamplus)
He said that job opportunities are open for those who are good at foreign languages after they return home.
"I have met workers who don't know anything about machine operation but are good at a foreign language, so after only a few months working in Japan, they quickly become experts in operating the equipment. After the five-year labour contract, they will be transferred to a high-level work visa and allowed to take wives and children to Japan," Liem said.
In 2023, the Department of Overseas Labour will promote the connection between service enterprises, vocational schools, and institutions to create labour sources to work abroad. In addition, foreign language and skill training will be enhanced to meet the requirements of foreign employers.
"We will focus on raising the sense of organisation and discipline as well as creating awareness to prevent workers from being taken advantage of at work," he said.
The department promotes disseminating policies, laws and information on overseas labour. He said that this activity will raise awareness of employees and society, helping prevent and limit fraud and law violations./.
