Malaysia’s economy is showing new signs of recovery, opening up new chances for Vietnamese guest workers, a Vietnamese labour official has said.

Vu Dinh Toan, head of the Management Board of Vietnamese guest workers in Malaysia , said since the second quarter, more Malaysian enterprises have won new contracts, pushing up their demand for workers. As a result, most Vietnamese guest workers in the country have stable jobs and incomes.

“Some enterprises are even willing to receive hundreds of Vietnamese workers,” he said.

Toan stressed this is a good opportunity for Vietnam to resume its foothold in the Malaysian labour market, particularly in fields of its forces such as electronics, gold jewellery, textile-garment, mechanics industries and services.

Assessing potentials for labour export to Malaysia , Toan said the demand for Vietnamese labourers is high, estimated at 20,000 labourers in the coming time.

According to a survey made by Toan’s management board, there is a large number of Malaysian enterprises that are able to receive between 100-300 Vietnamese workers, not to mention some that have even greater demands.

Toan said Malaysian employers highly praised Vietnamese workers’ diligence, skills and intelligence.

In Toan’s opinion, though the average monthly salary level offered by Malaysia is not high, at about 340 USD, but the working conditions suit Vietnamese workers, both in geological and environmental aspects.

However, Toan said Vietnamese authorities should tighten their management and give strict treatment to labour exporters that violate laws or leave labourers alone.

He also stressed the need to provide more information of Malaysia ’s labour market to domestic labourers and help them improve professional and communication skills as well as understanding of labour disciplines and local laws.

In addition, Vietnamese authorised agencies should coordinate with Malaysian agencies in verifying labour export contracts and keeping a close watch of Malaysian employers in order to ensure interests for Vietnamese labourers, he added.

Vietnam has set the target of exporting 100,000 workers to Malaysia from now to the end of 2010./.