HCMC – Vietnam sent a total of 43,584 workers to work overseas between January and October 2021, equivalent to only 48.42% of the year’s target, according to the Department of Overseas Labor under the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.
In October alone, 766 laborers went abroad, equivalent to only 17.16% of the figure recorded during the same period last year (4,463).
Japan received the largest number of Vietnamese workers last month with 142 people, followed by South Korea with 46, Taiwan with 38 and Hungary with 35.
Vietnam earlier set a target to send some 90,000 workers abroad under labor contracts with partners in 2021, including nearly 19,400 workers to Taiwan, approximately 19,190 to Japan, some 1,650 to China and 748 to South Korea. However, the Covid-19 pandemic affected the plan.
Up to now, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Singapore have reopened to Vietnamese workers thanks to the improved Covid situation.
According to Pham Viet Huong, Deputy Director of the Department of Overseas Labor, Japan has since November 8 relaxed entry regulations for priority groups, including Vietnamese apprentices and guest workers, as part of the Government’s economic recovery policy.
The Japanese Ministry of Justice has provided preliminary guidance on receiving apprentices in accordance with a set roadmap. Accordingly, in November, Japan is only accepting applications from apprentices who were granted residency status from January 1 to June 30, 2020.
In December 2021 and January 2022, the country will receive applications from apprentices granted residency status from January 1 to December 31, 2020, and from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021, respectively.
Regarding regulations on Covid infection prevention and control, the quarantine period has been shortened to three days for workers who have been fully vaccinated against Covid with one of the three vaccines approved in Japan (Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca), and have negative RT-PCR test results within 72 hours before landing.
Apart from holding negative RT-PCR test results, workers who have not been fully vaccinated against Covid or have received other vaccines are still required to undergo quarantine at home for 14 days upon arrival.
Meanwhile, South Korea has lifted restrictions on the number of workers entering the country daily and weekly. Previously, the number of workers allowed to enter the country was limited to 100 people per day and 600 people per week.
Nguyen Gia Liem, Deputy Director of the Department of Overseas Labor, said the department will continue to update new policies from labor markets and provide guidance for Vietnamese enterprises.
