Nearly 38,000 Vietnamese went to work abroad in the first three months of this year, a 15-fold increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

Nguyen Gia Liem, Deputy Director of MoLISA's Department of Overseas Labor, said that the number accounted for 34.48% of this year's target and Taiwan (China) received the largest number of Vietnamese during the period with 18,044 workers, followed by Japan with nearly 17,696.

“In March alone, nearly 9,500 Vietnamese workers went abroad, mostly to Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea. This was an 8.6-fold rise against last March,” Liem added.

He noted that in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the demand for labor in many markets surged, so did the number of workers sent overseas. “Nearly 143,000 workers travel abroad in 2022 which was an increase of 317% year-on-year but the number was still lower than in 2019 (the pre-pandemic period) which hit 147,000.”

A group of Vietnamese workers in South Korea. Photo: The Department of Overseas Labor

"Recruitment demand is highest in the food and food processing industries, followed by engineering, manufacturing, and automotive. Recently, there have been more recruitment orders in the healthcare sector. Demand for workers in the agricultural sector in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan has also increased, mainly due to aging and declining populations," he added.

"Vietnamese workers are hardworking and quick learners. In addition, they have worked in countries such as Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea for a long time and are well-regarded by employers for their skills. In addition to markets in Northeast Asia, Northern Europe, and the Middle East, we will also send more workers to other countries such as Germany and Australia," Liem stressed.

In 2023, the country has set a target of sending 110,000 workers abroad under employment contracts. MoLISA has recently said that it is evaluating the pilot phase of sending workers to European countries like Romania and Poland to promote development, expand and stabilize the labor market.

In addition, the ministry has also asked 506 companies licensed to provide labor export to review the number of workers who will return home as a result of the outbreak.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is committed to working closely with the Vietnamese government to develop the skills of migrant workers, provide them with better employment opportunities, and improve their migration experience, IOM Chief of Mission in Vietnam Park Mihyung said at a consultation on April 19 to discuss the cooperation program on labor migration for 2024-2028.

Park underscored IOM's cooperation with Vietnam and other parties, such as non-governmental and social organizations, to promote safe and orderly labor migration based on the Sustainable Development Goals in the country.

She added that IOM appreciates the Vietnamese government's commitment to protecting the rights of migrant workers and creating a conducive environment to facilitate safe labor migration for the benefit of the people, the community, and local socio-economic development.