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The Law on Vietnamese Workers Working Abroad contains provisions that ensure the rights and benefits of workers abroad, which are clearly outlined in the law.
The initiative and voluntary rights of workers abroad are included in Articles 1, 2, 3 and 5, under which, the rights of workers are guaranteed and they can freely choose the appropriate form of working abroad and are not forced to work against their will.
Vietnam also pursues the policy of not sending workers abroad at any cost, but must create conditions for them to work abroad as well as having jobs after returning home. Article 4 of the Law also encourages workers abroad to acquire professional and technical qualifications in order to work safely and have higher incomes. After returning home, they can promote and effectively use their knowledge, skills and qualifications suitable to the country's socio-economic development.
In addition, workers are guaranteed gender equality rights and employment opportunities, while they are not discriminated against and are protected in accordance with gender characteristics.
The law is employee-centred and also stipulates the rights, obligations and responsibilities of enterprises, agencies, organisations and individuals related to Vietnamese workers abroad under contracts.
Moreover, the law helps to reduce the cost burdens on workers abroad by eliminating brokerage fees. The law also prohibits the act of collecting service fees from employees in contravention of this law.
On the afternoon of October 11, the Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organize the Promoting Vietnam - Europe Labour Cooperation workshop. The workshop attracted the attention and participation of nearly 200 delegates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, associations, enterprises on training and supplying human resources, and delegates from 15 European diplomatic missions in Hanoi, the European Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In addition, Vietnamese representative agencies in Europe participated online.
Speaking at the workshop, Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, affirmed that the workshop provided an overview of the current situation of labour cooperation between Vietnam and European countries.
Thereby, Vietnam can grasp the opportunities and challenges for each market to find solutions to improve cooperation efficiency, positioning the field of labour cooperation in the overall bilateral cooperation relationship between Vietnam and each European partner.
At the workshop, Deputy Minister of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan summarized that dispatching Vietnamese workers to work abroad is a major policy of the Vietnamese Government to develop human resources, solve employment, create income and improve skills for workers and strengthen international cooperation between Vietnam and countries around the world.
In recent years, annually, Vietnam has sent about 150,000 workers to work abroad and currently, there are about 700,000 Vietnamese workers working in 40 countries and territories, with more than 30 different occupational groups.
"Europe has always been considered a key market, with a need to receive a large number of foreign workers, including Vietnamese workers. Vietnamese workers have initially created prestige and a brand in the international labour market," emphasized Deputy Minister Nguyen Ba Hoan.

Vietnam and countries in the European Union have a friendly relationship and active, increasingly deep, effective, and comprehensive cooperation, including in the field of labour cooperation. This cooperation brings great benefits to each country.

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Countries in the European Union need to supplement human resources, making up for the shortage of labour force due to population aging. Vietnam is a country with a young population, in need of job creation, vocational skills training, and industrial working style.

Attending the workshop, the embassies of European countries in Hanoi confirmed that this market has a great demand for receiving skilled Vietnamese workers, and is ready to support human resource training to ensure the quality of the supply, have a stable salary policy, and many favorable labour policies.

At the workshop, the leaders of the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs agreed on the viewpoint of coordinating well to implement the work of dispatching labour to work abroad policy in the coming time, maintaining and developing sustainable cooperation, ensuring the rights of workers.
In recent time, that it is necessary to continue to complete submissions to competent authorities for the promulgation of detailed instructions on the Law on Vietnamese Workers Working Abroad Under Contracts. At the same time, legal provisions and policies on workers abroad should be implemented in a synchronous manner by relevant authorities and organisations.
It is also necessary to pay attention to promoting the labour market with good working conditions, safety and higher incomes for employees, while timely solving problems arising with employees. It is also important to coordinate with local authorities to soon organise flights to bring Vietnamese workers abroad and pick up expired workers back home.