Vietnam strengthens labour cooperation with Thailand, Singapore, Japan & South Korea

In meetings with his labour counterparts from these countries, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister Nguyen Ba Hoan discussed ways to progress their partnerships in areas pertaining to job opportunities and human resource expansion.

At the 28^th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM) and the 13th ASEAN Labour Ministers' Meeting, Vietnam's Deputy Minister Nguyen Ba Hoan shared that it will be extending its partnership with its Asia counterparts, namely Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore to expand human resource cooperation.

MOC Signing with Japan

Vietnam’s DPM Nguyen and Japan’s Deputy Minister in charge of policy of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Seiji Tanaka signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) during the meeting.

The MOC was signed under Japan’s new Employment Law and both parties were to continue cooperating in areas where Japan holds its strength in such as occupational safety and hygiene and vocational education.

DPM Nguyen also showed his appreciation towards Japan’s efforts and welcomed the issuance of a labour training programme, which aims to bring better job opportunities for Vietnamese workers and to receive companies sharing costs in an effort to reduce their financial burdens.

In response, Minister Tanaka affirmed that the country is ready to support Vietnam, specifically through the continued implementation of the labour market information project for migrant workers via the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This ongoing project helps to increase transparency in the recruitment process, prevent intermediary service units from collecting illegal fees and is expected to be completed in 2025. "Japan wants to create conditions for Vietnamese labourers to study and work in Japan in a stable and long-term manner,” Minister Tanaka said.

Vietnam to supply more workers to work in Korea

On his next meeting with Deputy Minister of Labour and Employment of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Kim Ni Suk, DPM Nguyen offered to send more workers to ROK, as part of efforts to reduce labour issues faced by ROK, in lieu of the country's aging population.

Currently, there are 84,000 Vietnamese workers in ROK under the Employment Permit Programme for Foreign Workers (Program EPS), Technical and Professional Worker Programme (E7 visa), Nearshore Fishing Crew Programme (E10 visa), and Seasonal Worker Programme (C4 and E8 visa). However, the number of workers sent by localities to work through seasonal labour programmes do not correspond with the expectations of both governments, it was noted. In that vein, Deputy Minister Kim expressed ROK’s willingness to expand the conversion of E9 visas to E7 for Vietnamese workers if issues of illegal labour can be resolved.

Rounding off the meeting, both parties agreed to facilitate deeper coordinations between both ministries to resolve outstanding issues actively, promoting effective cooperation between the two sides over time.

Proposal to accept more Vietnamese workers in Thailand

Speaking to Thai Minister of Labour Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, DPM Nguyen once again expressed his appreciation towards the Thai Ministry of Labour's active role in coordinating ASEAN activities in areas such as social insurance, child labour prevention, support for workers in the informal sector, and more.

Minister Phipaht also suggested to a signing of a 'cooperation agreement' as soon as they can and expand occupational groups receiving Vietnamese workers from the two construction and fishing industries to all 25 occupations as currently applied to Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

The negotiation and the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the cooperation in the field of labour in general and an agreement on sending Vietnamese workers to work in Thailand is expected be completed in December 2024.

Proposal for Singapore to expand human resource cooperation

In his last meeting, with Minister of Manpower and Second Minister of Trade and Industry of Singapore, Dr. Tan See Leng, DPM Nguyen expressed Vietnam’s desire to have continued cooperations with Singapore. This would follow a proposal to sign an MoU on Labour Cooperation and Human Resource Development, Exchange of Innovative Talents (ITX Programme), and the Cooperation Agreement between the Directorate of Vocational Education of Vietnam and the Institute of Technical Education in Singapore.

Although there are still issues receiving Singaporean workers in Vietnam, the Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) said it will coordinate with relevant agencies and report to the Government to implement the programme in a way that creates more favourable conditions for candidates to ensure the Mou on the ITX Programme pulls through.

Minister Tan suggested that each side should appoint a contact point to discuss related issues and develop a specific implementation roadmap for the MoU on Labour Cooperation and Human Resources Development. Currently, both countries have implemented many special cooperation activities through the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park projects.

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