The number of Vietnamese workers abroad reached almost 36,000 in the first three months of 2024, of which over 11,000 were women, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said.

Japan is the destination country for a large number of Vietnamese migrant workers. Photo: VOV

The Department of Overseas Labor under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs reported that the total number of Vietnamese guest workers in March was 12,738. Among them, the destinations with the largest number of Vietnamese migrant labor force were Japan (23,364), Taiwan (China) (9,781), South Korea (707), China (398), Singapore (270), Romania (219), Thailand (190), Macau (China - 169), Saudi Arabia (147), Hungary (108), and other markets.

This year's target is to send 125,000 Vietnamese workers abroad under contract, focusing on high-income and stable markets, such as Japan with an estimated 63,000 workers; Taiwan (China), 48,000; and South Korea, 8,500.

In 2024, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has identified the improvement of the quality of Vietnamese workers on contract overseas as a key objective. In addition to the current markets, the Ministry will seek additional high-income markets that match the qualifications and skills of Vietnamese workers.

To achieve this, the Ministry will focus on strengthening the dissemination of information, providing guidance and offering training opportunities to businesses. This proactive approach aims to ensure that labor sources are adequately prepared and that workers have the necessary professional and language skills before they leave.

Furthermore, the ministry will actively monitor and collect information on Vietnamese workers who go abroad. This proactive measure aims to address any problems that may arise in a timely manner, safeguard the legal rights and interests of both workers and enterprises, and better support the smooth reintegration of workers into the domestic labour market upon their return.

In 2023, the number of Vietnamese workers contracted to work abroad reached a record high of nearly 160,000, exceeding the allocated plan by 133.3%. Of these, Japan was the leading market with more than 80,000 Vietnamese workers, followed by Taiwan (China) with 58,620 and South Korea with 11,626.