Delegates discuss problems and solutions to ensure better rights for Vietnamese guest workers abroad at a conference held on January 15 (Photo: VNA) HaiPhong (VNS/VNA) — Vietnamese authorities have improved thelegal framework, stepped up communication measures and promoted internationalco-operation to ensure labourers enjoy better rights when working abroad undercontracts, a conference has heard.
The conference onensuring the rights of Vietnamese guest workers was held by the Standing Officeon Human Rights on January 15 in the northern city of Hai Phong.
Over the last few years,the country has sent an increasing number of Vietnamese labourers abroad.
Ensuring rights for thelabourers in general and guest workers abroad in specific has been among theimportant policies of the government, Major General Nguyen Van Ky, deputy chiefof the human rights office, said at the conference.
Vietnam hasmade adjustments to its laws and regulations to ensure they arecompatible with the reality, to create favourable conditions for businessesoffering guest worker services as well as to better protect the rights andinterests of workers abroad, he said.
Human trafficking crimesvia labour migration is still a pressing issue in Vietnam. According toColonel Cao Quoc Viet from the Criminal Police Department under the Ministry ofPublic Security, the victims, mostly from vulnerable groups in the rural andmountainous areas, are trafficked for sex, labour and their body parts, amongother reasons.
There are difficultiesin tackling human trafficking as the crime is often conducted in hostcountries, making it difficult to investigate and rescue the victims, he said,adding that the victims often travel abroad legally, either on travel or workvisas and are trafficked only after they enter the host countries.
Deputy head of theDepartment of Social Vices Prevention and Combat under the Ministry of Labour, Invalidand Social Affairs Nguyen Thuy Duong highlighted the psychological and sheltersupport that trafficking victims require.
It is necessary to workon a standard procedure to support victims, continue to improve the supportservices, offer training to enhance the quality of social workers as well asensure localities have a cooperation mechanism among different agencies tosupport the victims, she said./.
