The Australian Government will permit up to 1,000 Vietnamese workers to be employed in its agricultural sector at any given time, as part of the labor mobility program between the two countries.

At the event announcing the implementation of support measures for Vietnamese citizens under the program__Photo: VNA

The Australian Government will permit up to 1,000 Vietnamese workers to be employed in its agricultural sector at any given time, as part of the labor mobility program between the two countries.

On September 6, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Australian Embassy announced the implementation of support measures for Vietnamese citizens under this program.

Accordingly, participating Vietnamese workers can undertake short-term work (lasting from six to nine months) or long-term assignments (from one to four years). The job positions available require only low to semi-skilled agricultural work, including crop cultivation, meat processing, aquaculture (including fish farming), and forestry.

In early March, the prime ministers of both countries jointly announced the plan for the implementation of the program. The selection of Vietnamese service providers for sending workers abroad and Australian employers participating in the program is set to take place in September, with the choosing of the former coordinated by the ministry and Australian government.

Members of the Hop Thanh-Thanh Van Cooperative in Thanh Van commune, Cho Moi district, Bac Kan province present their banana products, 2019

In the first year of the program, one public service unit and up to six enterprises specializing in sending Vietnamese workers overseas will be selected. Recruitment fees will be paid by Australian employers to the Vietnamese service providers.

Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan stated that labor cooperation is a crucial component of the Vietnam-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. He noted that this agreement would meet the wishes of Vietnamese workers seeking to work in Australia to improve their language skills, gain knowledge, and enhance technical expertise in agriculture while earning higher incomes. At the same time, it would also cater to relevant demand from Australian employers.

Both Australia and Vietnam are committed to worker safety, social securityand will work hard to minimise the risk of fraud, unethical recruitment practices, and worker exploitation under the program. We look forward to working with experienced recruitment service enterprises in Vietnam with strong ethical, fair and inclusive recruitment practices and policies”. 
In the past, The Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MoLISA) of Việt Nam and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade signed the first bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Australian Agriculture Visa Programme. In the context of deepening international cooperation and integration, the MoU will be an effective job creation channel, bringing economic benefits, contributing to ensuring sustainable social security, unleashing potentials, and contributing to the promotion of the bilateral cooperation relationship between Việt Nam and Australia to be even more successful and prosperous. 
The MoU will create a legal framework, that facilitates the entry of Vietnamese citizens into Australia to work in the agricultural sector. Việt Nam’s participation in this programme strengthens and extends the already rich people-to-people links two countries share. For decades, Vietnamese workers, students, business people, and tourists have made extensive contributions to Australia. The Australian Government looks forward to this continuing under the programme. Việt Nam’s early participation in the Australian Agriculture Visa Programme demonstrates the Morrison Government’s commitment to deepening cooperation under the Australia-Việt Nam Strategic Partnership. The Australian Agriculture Visa programme is intended to provide a sustainable, long-term contribution to Australia’s labour supply that supports Australia’s agricultural and primary industry sectors.

It supplements the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which remains the mainstay for meeting agricultural workforce shortages in our primary industries sector and the key solution for the current harvest, the Australian diplomat remarked.

Under the Australian Agriculture Visa programme, employees will be recruited to work across a range of agriculture sectors, including horticulture, dairy, wool, grains, fisheries and forestry, including support services and primary processing.

It is expected that Australia will receive about 1,000 Vietnamese agricultural labourers a year, with basic salary (excluding living expenses) from AU$3,200-4,000 a month, quite a competitive level compared to other labour markets popular among Vietnamese workers.
Australia and Vietnam’s partnership extends

across political, security, economic and people-to-people activities. Australians born in Vietnam represent the sixth largest migrant community in Australia, and around 30,000 Vietnamese students enrol in education institutions in Australia each year. Vietnam is one of our fastest growing trade partners, and is central to regional security in South East Asia. The country’s further development as a strong trade and investment partner is vital to our national interest and the region’s prosperity.

Vietnam experienced remarkably rapid economic growth in the past two decades. However, there are risks to the medium term outlook.  Businesses are constrained by the lack of a skilled workforce; and investments in infrastructure and deeper economic reforms are needed to sustain private sector growth. Inequality is a continuing challenge, with 9.3 million people (9.8 per cent of the population) living below the national poverty line (World Bank, 2016). It is a particular issue for women and ethnic minorities. Vietnam is one of few countries in which the gender pay gap has widened over the last decade. Ethnic minorities have still not benefitted equally from economic growth — although they comprise just 15 per cent of the population, they account for around half of those living in poverty.

Vietnam's Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2030 provinds the country’s overarching policy for responding to these challengesAustralia’s commitment to development cooperation with Vietnam is ongoing. Reflecting our maturing economic partnership, we will continue to leverage Vietnam’s significant domestic resources and foreign investment, and support Vietnam’s efforts to enter a new phase of economic development. By helping to stimulate the private sector, upskill the workforce, and support inclusive growth, we will contribute to achieving  shared, overarching goal of promoting prosperity and reducing poverty in Vietnam.
To strengthen health security in Vietnam, Australia will promote a more resilient Vietnamese health system, better able to maintain full health service delivery in the event of further health security threats.
Australia will support Vietnam to strengthen its institutions and train its future leaders, so they are equipped to manage future shocks and regional challenges. 
Australia will promote human rights education and support building the capacity of Vietnamese government agencies and educational institutions to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights. 
Australia will work to prevent and respond to violence against women and children, ensure gender equality is central to recovery efforts and promote inclusive recovery. 
Australia will help Vietnam’s planners manage the pressure of rapid economic restructuring necessary for recovery, including by strengthening food, energy and water security. 
To support economic recovery, Australia will provide targeted policy advice to Vietnam’s economic leaders to help reform the policy and business environment and accelerate public and private investment. 
Australia will support the development of industry skills boards, strengthen education and university governance standards, and quality assure higher education qualifications, including online delivery. 
Australia is increasing women’s economic empowerment by encouraging greater female participation in the labour market and global value chains.  Protecting the most vulnerable, especially women and children, will be a cross-cutting theme of Australia’s engagement in Vietnam.