The department reported that 142,779 Vietnamese workers were sent abroad in 2022, reaching 158.64% of the set target of 90,000 workers. It is also the highest number in the past two years, marking the growth of the foreign labour market.

This achievement demonstrated the efforts of Vietnam to overcome the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, the number of Vietnamese workers working abroad reached a record level of 152,000 in 2019. However, due to the complicated developments of the pandemic, the number fell to about 78,000 workers in 2020 and bottomed out at more than 45,000 workers in 2021.

Vietnam aims to send about 110,000 workers abroad in 2023. Photo: Internet

Japan remains the leading labour market of Vietnam, attracting the largest number of Vietnamese workers in 2022 at 67,295 workers. It was followed by Taiwan (China) with 58,598 employees, the Republic of Korea with 9,968 employees, Singapore with 1,822 employees, and China with 910 employees.

In the coming time, MOLISA will continue to promote the implementation of activities under the agreements signed with the receiving countries; traditional market stabilization and development measures; and negotiationg to expand high-income markets with good jobs for laborers.

In 2022, Vietnam signed a cooperation agreement to send workers to work with a number of European countries such as Germany, Romania, Czech and Bulgaria.

For different countries, the cooperation agreement will be different. In some countries, the two sides will sign a comprehensive cooperation in all fields and industries such as Japan and the Republic of Korea, but in some countries the cooperation agreement will only include 1 or 2 fields such as Germany in nursing and high-tech industry.

Sending Vietnamese laborers to work abroad will also be more selective. Accordingly, MOLISA will gradually balance the domestic and foreign labor force in the direction that is most beneficial to the workers.

Vietnamese workers are poised to benefit from a surge in overseas job opportunities in 2023, with countries in Asia and Europe set to recruit thousands of employees, many of whom will receive monthly salaries in the tens of thousands of đồng.

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.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) aims to send approximately 110,000 workers abroad for labour contracts this year.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyễn Bá Hoan said some businesses had received licenses to implement contract signing to send nearly 100 Vietnamese workers to Canada.

He said: "Canada is assessed by businesses and employees to be a good working environment, offer high incomes, ensure stable life and care for social security."

Keijo Norvanto, Ambassador of Finland to Việt Nam, 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 Việt Nam, to prevent 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, industry, and agro-forestry with salaries starting from 1,940 euro (nearly VNĐ50 million) per month before extra-hour wages.

When labourers earn Finland's work certificate, their monthly salary will increase to 2,240 to 3,000 euro (VNĐ56-75.5 million) per month.

Meanwhile, in the second half of this year, Australia will receive 1,000 Vietnamese agricultural workers with salaries starting from AUD3,200-4,000 (VNĐ52-65 million) per month.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyễn Bá 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 Romani.

Improving the quality of Vietnamese labourers

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.

Nguyễn Gia Liêm, 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.

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 can operate the equipment fluently. 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," Liêm 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 and raising discipline will be enhanced to meet the requirements of foreign employers.

"We will focus on raising employees' sense of organisation and discipline as well as preventing workers from being abused 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