Following is the full text of the interview.
VOVNews: How does the draft law deal with violations?

Mr Loi: I think that we must seek to minimise violations committed by businesses and centres involved in employment services. Many of these businesses and centres, by one way or another, illegally collect fees from applicants. Many companies, including those allowed or not allowed to be involved in labour export, deceive workers, putting them in miserable situation. To run such services, I think businesses must have vocational training centres and co-ordinate with certain vocational schools to train workers before they leave. I think this should be added to Article 8 of the draft law to tighten guest worker management activities. In fact, after training courses, many businesses fail to send workers abroad because they are not licensed to export workers. Instead, they “sell” these workers to licensed companies, which later require re-training, causing a waste of time and money for workers. Sending workers abroad is aimed at generating jobs and reducing poverty. Without thorough consideration, workers will be put into great financial difficulty.  

Last year, we dealt with seven businesses violating regulations on labour export. Cuu Long company, for example, was fined VND20 million because it was not licensed to export workers, but recruited 270 workers and collected more than VND9 billion from them. The company failed to pay the money back to workers when required.

VOVNews: Do you think that the law protects worker interests?

Mr Loi: If we have clear regulations and increase inspections, the law ensures worker interests and prevents negative phenomena such as match-making and deception. Major big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City boast thousands of businesses registered for labour service licenses, and we cannot control them all. Many of these businesses deceive workers and train them illegally. With the issuance of the law, the Government and the National Assembly aim to prevent such deception and demand that businesses strictly abide by the regulations stated in the license paper. Without training establishments, these businesses must co-ordinate with recognised vocational schools to provide professional training for workers. In principle, workers pay all kinds of fees after they conduct medical examinations and receive approval from foreign companies. But in fact, many businesses ask workers to pay deposits and other fees at the beginning, but fail to send them abroad in the end.

VOVNews: How will the law be revised to protect worker interests?

Mr Loi: The fact is that labour export companies have so many branches that State management agencies cannot inspect them all. Consequently, worker interests are violated. I agree with the law which stipulates that a labour export company has not more than two branches.

The law has specific regulations on financial fines applied to labour export companies and training centres which violate contract regulations. Accordingly, they will be fined and have their licenses revoked. However, all pending issues relating to worker interests, all kinds of fees for example, should be solved. The law also does not make clear the material responsibility of the healthcare sector in case workers are sent back due to poor health. Almost all workers pass local medical examinations, but some fail to pass check-ups in the resident country. In this case, the medical centre which provides medical check-ups for workers before leaving must compensate the workers.

We also need specific financial fines for guest workers who break their contract or violate the laws of the resident country. Without tough measures, such violations will affect the image of Vietnam in the eyes of international friends.

Reporter: Thank you.