Nation looks to increase number of guest workers sent abroad

22:19' 26/06/2007 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – One of Vietnam's goals is to make labour export a key economic sector. Senior Government officials and businesspeople spoke to Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) about measures to increase the number of guest workers sent abroad. * Dao Cong Hai, deputy director of the Bureau of Administration on Overseas Workers, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs I can say the co-operation model between labour export enterprises and local administrations in the provinces of Hai Duong and Phu Tho is a good example of simplified procedures to recruit, train and send workers abroad. Since late 2002, this successful model has been replicated in more than 50 provinces and cities nationwide. It is important to raise people's awareness about the benefits of sending workers overseas and how it positively impacts the national employment and poverty reduction programme in relation to local economic development. This model also helps cut down administrative costs, including, intermediary costs. However, four major weaknesses have been revealed during the implementation of the model. First, recruitment is difficult because the number of applicants is so big that the screening process can't keep up. This leaves workers and the public at large with a bad impression of the industry. Second, many enterprises don't send notifications to local authorities to inform them about successful applicants. Third, there is a lack of co-ordination between enterprises operating in the same area or region. And last, some authorities have caused problems for enterprises by requiring unnecessary paperwork and red-tape. Local banks are guilty of the same. * Nguyen Xuan An, vice president and secretary of the Viet Nam Association of Labour Export (VAMAS) Guest workers remit about US$1.6bil to their families in Vietnam every year. This sum is not small, however, it could be much larger if labour export enterprises didn't face so much international competition in this sector in terms of acquired professional skills, foreign language knowledge and disciplinary attitudes of workers. In my opinion, to win more contracts for overseas workers, it is important to pay attention to skilled people who are already in the field, especially farmers. VAMAS is committed to developing programmes to support these businesses, particularly in the areas of capacity building, market information sharing and protecting the interests of enterprises and workers. For us, it is imperative to have a reliable co-operation mechanism with enterprises while fostering a sense of responsibility towards the workers. It is our mandate to help workers and enterprises. * Nguyen Hoang Hien, director of the Phu Tho Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs At present, Phu Tho has between 15,000 and 16,000 workers living abroad. Every year, they send home more than VND600bil ($37.5mil). We target sending around 5,000 workers abroad annually. There are 40 enterprises operating in this sector and that's why it is very important to foster healthy co-operation between companies. At present, we are helping enterprises to establish links with vocational training institutions. Of the 24,000 attending vocational training courses, only 1,000 have been able to leave home to work in another country. * Dao Xuan Can, secretary of Bac Giang Province's Party Committee Sending guest workers abroad is one of the province's five major economic programmes. We consider this sector as the quickest way to settle employment issues, increase household incomes and effectively contribute to poverty reduction. There are risks involved for workers, enterprises and administrations at different levels. But analysing, assessing and managing these risks helps us minimise them. However, I don't agree with the idea of holding back 10% of the sum lent to workers by some banks in order to set up a fund. I agree that the province should allocate money to support vocational training and commercial banks so they can expand loan coverage, but what I want to emphasis here is the principle of transparency that must be honoured. * Nguyen Xuan Vui, director of the Airserco Co I am strongly in favour of present administrative reform, but I don't know why some local authorities keep asking us to provide so much documentation before granting workers permits to go abroad. For example, if an enterprise wants to recruit labourers to work abroad, the enterprise needs three documents: an introduction letter from the Bureau of Administration on Overseas Workers, an introduction letter from the province and a third from the district. These procedures are time consuming. In my opinion, the most important document enterprises must have is a valid permit to recruit workers to go abroad issued by an authorised agency and a contract with foreign partners. It is the responsibility of local authorities to verify that the enterprise's documents are authentic. I also object to the requirement that each labour export enterprise has to deposit VND500mil ($31,000) in the provincial treasury as written in Decree 81. It would be much better for us to deposit the money in the State Treasury. Regarding the sum of money, each guest worker should be able to borrow more money from the bank as VND20mil ($1,250) just isn't enough. * Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, director general of the Advanced International Joint-Stock Co How to settle violations committed by guest workers has emerged as a big problem nowadays for labour export enterprises. I suggest that the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs have sanctions in place for violators, whether they be workers or their companies. Before going to work abroad, most labourers have been trained to do simple jobs. But in the international market, highly skilled workers are the real treasure. Their salaries depend on their skills and qualifications. My company is willing to support up to 50% of vocational training costs for workers so they can earn better salaries abroad. (Source: Viet Nam Net)