Hanoi, (VNA) – The number of Vietnamese guestworkers abroad has been rising, hitting 142,860 in 2018, exceeding the yearlytarget by 30 percent.
According to the Department of Overseas Labour under theMinistry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, 2018 was the fifth consecutiveyear that the number of Vietnamese labourers sent abroad exceeded 100,000.
Japan remained the biggest labour market of Vietnam in theyear receiving 68,737 labourers, followed by Taiwan (China) with 60,369 and theRepublic of Korea with 6,538.
The department attributed the results to rising demand in majorlabour markets, while Vietnamese workers’ quality meet the requirements in manynew areas such as nursing, agriculture, aquaculture and technology.
Efforts have also been taken by firms to expand markets andimprove the quality of the labour force. Furthermore, labourers themselves haveupgraded their skills.
Nguyen Gia Liem, Vice Director of the department, said inthe first quarter of 2019, the ministry will organise a conference with labourfirms to seek measures to tackle problems in labour export activities andensure interests of workers.
In 2019, Vietnam aims to send 120,000 labourers to work abroad,targeting major markets such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China),Romania and Bulgaria.
Liem said that many Eastern European countries have showninterest in Vietnamese labourers. Along with traditional markets, hundreds ofthousands of job opportunities are available for Vietnamese workers in Europethanks to deals on labour cooperation signed in late 2018.
For instance, Bulgaria is in need of 50,000 Vietnameselabourers in construction, garment and textile, hi-tech agriculture and nursing.
Together with expanding markets, the department will focuson completing the legal system, while coordinating with relevant agencies topropose adjustments to the Law on Vietnamese guest workers, which will besubmitted to the National Assembly in 2020.-VNA
Vietnam sent more than 140,000 workers to work abroad in 2018, up 7 percent against the previous year, according to the Department of Overseas Labour Management under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.
2019 is considered a promising year for labour export with a series of potential markets with good jobs and salaries are opening door for Vietnamese workers overseas.
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Illustrative image (Source: VNA) 
