Strengthening coordination to protect the rights and interests of Vietnamese workers working abroad

Recently, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has actively implemented many measures to raise awareness, ensure safe migration, as well as protect the rights and interests of Vietnamese workers working abroad.

Mr. Le Hoang Ha, specialist of the Legal and General Department, Department of Overseas Labor Management, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, speaking at the training course on safe migration and protection of Vietnamese citizens abroad. (Photo: Tuan Viet)

Sharing with The Gioi & Viet Nam Newspaper on the sidelines of the training course on safe migration and protection of Vietnamese citizens abroad (June 25-26), Mr. Le Hoang Ha, specialist of the Legal - General Department, Department of Overseas Labor Management, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, affirmed that the Ministry always regularly inspects and checks the work of supporting and managing Vietnamese workers abroad to ensure the rights and interests of citizens.

Could you please tell us the key tasks of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in sending Vietnamese workers to work abroad under contracts and the current forms of sending workers to work abroad?

Currently, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs is stepping up the implementation of the tasks assigned in Resolution No. 225/NQ-CP dated December 31, 2023 of the Government on promulgating the Plan to implement Directive No. 20-CT/TW dated December 12, 2022 of the Secretariat of the 13th Party Central Committee on strengthening the Party's leadership in sending Vietnamese workers to work abroad in the new situation, including key tasks such as:

Firstly , diversify the countries/territories where Vietnamese workers go to work, aiming at countries/territories with good working conditions, stable income and jobs that are physically suitable and suitable for the strengths of Vietnamese workers.

Strengthen negotiations towards signing labor cooperation agreements with these countries/territories to create a favorable and transparent legal framework for workers during the process of migrating and working abroad.

Second , promote orientation education for workers before they go to work abroad; focusing on disseminating laws and customs of the country/territory where workers go to work; raise workers' awareness of compliance with laws and regulations of the workplace.

Regularly update new knowledge and legal information into the orientation education program.

Third , strengthen digital transformation and apply information technology in the field of Vietnamese workers going to work abroad. Aim to carry out all administrative procedures in this field in an electronic environment; digitize orientation educational documents for workers to conveniently look up and store throughout the migration process.

Regarding the current forms of workers working abroad according to the provisions of the Law on Vietnamese Workers Working Abroad, they include: working abroad under contracts with public service units according to international agreements; working abroad under contracts or written agreements with enterprises, organizations, and individuals.

Enterprises, organizations and individuals can be the following units: Vietnamese enterprises providing services to send Vietnamese workers to work abroad under contracts; Vietnamese enterprises winning bids and receiving contracts for construction works and projects abroad; Vietnamese enterprises sending Vietnamese workers to study and improve their qualifications and professional skills abroad; Vietnamese organizations and individuals investing abroad; going to work abroad under labor contracts directly signed with employers abroad.

Overview of the training session on protecting Vietnamese citizens abroad on June 26. (Photo: Tuan Viet)

In recent times, what measures has the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs taken to raise awareness and ensure safe migration for Vietnamese workers going to work abroad?

Currently, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has implemented many activities to raise awareness among workers. Specifically, we have increased the provision of accurate, timely and widespread information to workers.

All information about businesses licensed to operate services sending Vietnamese workers to work abroad is posted on the electronic information portal of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Department of Overseas Labor Management.

Information such as the head office address, legal representative, website, and phone number of the business are all listed online. Employees and their relatives can look up information about the business's activities before making decisions to work abroad.

In addition, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs coordinates with central and local authorities to handle organizations and individuals who show signs of fraud and illegal recruitment of workers to work abroad. We also widely inform about the handling and punishment of organizations and individuals who violate the law to increase deterrence.

In addition, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs also coordinates with media agencies to provide complete and accurate information about the labor market and state policies in supporting Vietnamese workers to work abroad under contracts; build columns and programs to share good examples, successes and experiences of Vietnamese workers when working abroad.

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs also regularly organizes training and capacity building for officials and labor professional agencies in localities.

The Department of Overseas Labor Management, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, in coordination with the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, organized a departure ceremony for nursing and care worker candidates to work in Japan on June 4, in Hanoi. (Source: Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs)

What role does the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs play in protecting the rights and interests of Vietnamese workers working abroad?

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs is assigned by the Government to be the agency responsible for implementing state management of Vietnamese workers working abroad. The protection of workers' rights and interests is carried out through the management of organizations and enterprises sending workers to work abroad.

Therefore, the task of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs is to review and inspect working conditions and benefits for workers before they leave; regularly inspect and examine the support and management of workers of service enterprises.

In some countries/territories with many Vietnamese workers, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send civil servants to participate in the Overseas Vietnamese Labor Management Board. Currently, there are 6 Overseas Vietnamese Labor Management Boards including Japan, Taiwan (China), South Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia.

For countries/territories without a Labor Management Board, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs regularly coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions to exchange professional issues and update legal information related to the work of Vietnamese workers working abroad.

Thank you!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tang-cuong-phoi-hop-bao-ve-quyen-va-loi-ich-cua-lao-dong-viet-nam-lam-viec-o-nuoc-ngoai-276482.html