A VOV reporter interviewed Hoang Minh Ngoc, deputy head of the Department for Overseas Labour Management under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

Reporter: What is your evaluation of the government’s decision to implement this action in the 3 provinces of Yen Bai, Thanh Hoa and Quang Ngai?
Hoang Minh Ngoc: Local authorities are drawing up plans to implement the project. In my point of view, they are considered to be the most crucial factor in putting the government’s policy into effect.

Reporter: What can the department do to control enterprises taking part in project in order to protect worker’s rights?
Hoang Minh Ngoc: We have issued document number 799 regulating how these enterprises can export workers from disadvantaged districts. For example, any contracts must be legitimate and suitable with the medium income worker’s skills. Normally, enterprises working in this field can charge the fees for their services in line with the State’s regulations. However, in fact, enterprises have to reduce these fees and provide additional services for workers to help them get passports and visas.

We also closely control the enterprises’ contacts with the workers including working conditions, accommodation and incomes. The recruited guest workers must attend training courses and have certain skills as requested. The department will work out detailed plans to tackle any problems arising from the existing mechanism to hold enterprises responsible for their recruitment of workers. 

Reporter: When will the project be implemented in all 61 districts across the country?
Hoang Minh Ngoc: We will draw on the experience and expand the model while implementing them. We will not wait until the project is finished. We will gather information from every 3 pilot districts and expand the model to other localities.

Reporter: Do you think it is difficult to achieve the target for 10,000 workers to be exported from 2009-2010?
Hoang Minh Ngoc: Judging from the reality, we have to limit this year’s target. The results of implementing the projects in the 3 pilot districts is encouraging and it is very likely that they will be successful.

Our VOV reporter also gathering opinions from a number of people working in the sector:

According to Dam Huu Dac, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the State and these provinces should actively cooperate to solve any problems emerging during the implementation of the project. Local authorities must consider labour exports as one of their most important tasks. They should focus on raising public awareness on the need for labour exports in conformity with the State’s policies. Enterprises must recruit the right persons and educate them before sending them to work overseas.

Vu Minh Xuyen, Deputy head of the Centre for Workers Overseas under the MoLISA said that the Association for International Manpower Development for Medium and Small Sized Enterprises of Japan has granted 50 places for skilled workers in disadvantaged districts. We are negotiating to implement the programme at the earliest possible time. For the Republic of Korean market, we aim to train between 300-400 workers this year to take part in language training and examinations. In the 3 pilot areas, more than 150 workers have joined in language classes in Hanoi, which will finish in the middle of September. These workers are more likely to be acceptable to the market.

Nguyen Xuan Hue, Chairman of the Quang Ngai provincial People’s Committee added that the province’s plan to export at least 3,000 workers, 1000 of whom will be from the 6 poorest districts this year. Along with the government’s decision, the province will allocate some of its budget to finance training as well as upgrading and building new training centres. The workers will be supported with health examinations, training and travel costs. The province also proposes that the Ministry introduce prestigious and experienced enterprises to recruit the workers.

Tong Thanh Tung, Deputy Head of Chau Hung Company said that his company is searching for suitable markets for disadvantaged districts. It will also send staff to rural areas to work out suitable solutions. With VND18 million, we can ensure that we can improve the lowest income by at least VND4-5 million a month for each worker and protect their rights in case they are put to any inconvenience.