About 500,000 Vietnamese people are working in over 40 countries and territories worldwide, and in recent years up to 35% of them have been women.  Since 2006, between 70,000 and 80,000 labourers have left Viet Nam every year to work abroad. 

These figures were released at a seminar on protecting the rights of female guest workers and the important role of domestic recruiters for overseas employment.  The event was held by the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs in Da Nang on 24 and 25 October.

A female worker in Taiwan

Ms Siriporn Laosang, an official of the UN Women’s Programme in the Asia-Pacific region, said that domestic recruiters had to give the Vietnamese labourers accurate information about their overseas jobs, and advice about how to protect themselves against sexual abuse.  She added that they should focus on providing skills training courses for female migrant workers, fulfilling their legal obligations, and ensuring benefits for those workers.  Domestic recruiters should also pay special attention to keeping regular contact with foreign consulates and embassies to protect their workers.

She stressed the need for domestic recruiters and overseas employing countries to enter into international and bilateral agreements.  The aim should be to stop discrimination against female guest workers and protect their legal rights.  The emphasis was on establishing female workers’ rights protection and support centres in their working countries.