Vietnam sent 29,000 workers overseas to take up a variety of occupations in the first five months of this year, an increase of 5 percent over the same period last year. The country now expects to realise its target of exporting 85,000 workers this year.

According to the Department of Overseas Labour Management under the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), Taiwan topped the list of markets that hire Vietnamese workers, closely followed by the United Arab Emirates, Laos, Japan and Malaysia.

As there is a great need for foreign workers in Taiwan, the Department plans to meet with Taiwan to discuss the possibility of the market employing more Vietnamese workers.

Also, this year the Republic of Korea opened up its labour market to Vietnam offering an employment quota of 12,500 workers.

There is a lot of potential for Vietnamese workers, especially in the Middle East this year as many big construction sites in the region are in dire need of more experienced workers.

Amongst the markets that employ foreign workers, Japan is currently catching the interest of many Vietnamese workers after it recently revised its immigration laws and has resolved a number of issues related to vocational training programmes.

These revisions now allow foreign workers to enjoy the same status as Japanese workers, including protection under the labour laws and other related legislation. They will also receive residency permits more promptly.

Nowadays, more Vietnamese labour export companies are registering with the Overseas Labour Management Department to recruit workers for Japanese businesses.

In the first half of May alone, the department gave the nod to 10 labour export companies, which intend to recruit 400 workers for the Japanese market.

These optimistic signs from the overseas labour markets have convinced the Department that it will reach its target of sending 85,000 workers to work abroad this year.

To maintain the labour export market, MoLISA has continued with supportive programmes for workers who will go overseas, including courses that hone workers’ skills and training on customs, familiar practices and the laws in host countries.

The MoLISA also now offers more training courses on welding, construction, mechanic engineering, tourism and hotel services as the importing markets all have a high demand for these occupations./.