Vietnam - Korea sign new labor cooperation agreement

The sixth Memorandum of Understanding continues to specify costs, selection processes, and measures to prevent and reduce the situation of workers who have expired their contracts and do not voluntarily return home.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on sending and receiving Vietnamese workers to work in Korea was signed by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Employment and Labor of Korea on June 23. President Vo Van Thuong and President of Korea Yoon Suk-yeol witnessed the signing.

Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung and Korean Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jung Sik exchanged the Memorandum of Understanding at the signing ceremony held at the Presidential Palace on June 23. Photo: Xuan Hoa

The MOU is valid for two years from the date of signing and is open for negotiation for a new extension. In 30 years of labor supply cooperation, this is the sixth memorandum of understanding signed between Vietnam and Korea.

Similar to previous memoranda of understanding, the content of this MOU covers the responsibilities of the sending and receiving agencies, costs, selection processes, introduction and signing of contracts with candidates; measures to prevent and reduce the situation of workers whose contracts have expired but do not voluntarily return home.

Rapid population aging has caused a shortage of labor in Korea in the manufacturing, shipbuilding, information technology, agriculture, livestock, fruit and vegetable harvesting, seafood, tourism, retail services, nursing, and housekeeping industries. The Korean government has made many policy adjustments to attract foreign labor, such as increasing quotas under the Employment Permit System (EPS), extending working hours for seasonal agricultural workers, and expanding the acceptance of labor in the shipbuilding industry with many incentives.

Vietnam and Korea have 30 years of cooperation in labor supply and use. As of the end of May, Vietnam had nearly 49,000 workers working in Korea with an average income of 1,500 - 2,000 USD per month. More than 33,500 of these workers are working under the EPS Program.

Workers take Korean language test to work in agriculture, May 2023. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

In May and June, the two sides held a Korean language test for nearly 23,400 people who wanted to work in the agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing and construction sectors. The test had the largest number of registrations in the past 10 years.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife arrived at Noi Bai Airport on the morning of June 22. This is Mr. Yoon Suk-yeol's first state visit to Vietnam and Vietnam is also the first Southeast Asian country the South Korean President has visited since taking office in May 2022.

Vietnam and South Korea established diplomatic relations in December 1992 and became Strategic Cooperative Partners in October 2009. The two countries upgraded their relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in December 2022.

Hong Chieu

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