According to the Overseas Labour Management Department under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Vietnam managed to maintain traditional markets and establish new ones in 2006 by sending an additional 78,855 workers abroad.

Japan emerged as Vietnam’s best potential market as it received 5,400 Vietnamese workers in 2006 – a rather high figure compared to previous years. Given this promising signal, Vietnam aims to send more than 10,000 workers to this market by 2010.

Last year, the Overseas Labour Management Department explored new markets such as the United States, Canada and Australia which offer high wages. The minimum wage in the US ranges between US$8-10/hour depending on states, while Australia offers the minimum wage level of US$30,000/year. Of course, accommodation fees and income tax are also high accordingly.

Recently, the Prime Minister permitted labour export businesses to send workers to the US. Every year, the US has a high demand for guestworkers at different skill levels and in different areas from agricultural and industrial sectors to high-tech sectors such as information technology and medical care. The country even offers a wage of between US$20-30/hour to guestworkers as nurses.

However, this lucrative market sets serious conditions in visa granting procedures. According to officials of the department, foreign workers are permitted to stay in the US only when employers prove that they provide enough accommodation free of charge for guestworkers. Guestworkers must cover meal expenses and hand in half their insurance fees, while employers cover the remainder. In addition, the US law does not require brokerage and deposit fees, but only service fees, which causes difficulties for businesses in managing workers.

To fulfil the target of sending 80,000 workers abroad this year, the department will focus on finalising legal documents guiding the implementation of the Law on Sending Workers Abroad. The documents will be submitted to authorised agencies for consideration and will be issued before July 1, 2007.

Alongside coordinating with ministries, sectors and provinces to enhance promotion activities and expand markets, the department will perfect the labour management board, refurbish equipment, improve the working conditions and professionalise groups of staff specialising in market research and development, labour management overseas and vocational training.