The trend of working abroad under contracts is of interest to and is chosen by workers in Da Nang. The city needs to strengthen support solutions to promote the sending of workers to work abroad, contributing to job creation, sustainable poverty reduction, and socio-economic development.

The Da Nang branch of the TQC International Human Resources Cooperation and Trading JSC sends workers to work in Japan. Photo: L.P

High income expectations

After graduating from senior high school, Nguyen Duc Tai, born in 2004, residing in Thanh Khe District, worked as a kitchen assistant for a restaurant but his income was not high.

In mid-2023, after learning about labour export, Tai chose to follow this path. “In my family, my uncle and aunt used to work abroad, and had a good income. After returning to hometown, they had some capital to do business. So I decided to learn a foreign language to prepare to work abroad in the construction industry, hoping to have a higher and more stable income” Tai shared.

Similarly, Le Thi Thu Sinh, born in 1995, residing in Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District, is studying Japanese to prepare to go to Japan to work in the food processing industry with the expectation of a better income and conditions to take care of her family.

Although he is 38 years old, due to economic difficulties and not being able to find a stable job, Mr. Duong Dinh Hoang, a resident of Hoa Khanh Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District, chose to work in Japan to have a stable job and higher income. "After finishing the contract and returning home, in addition to my income, I will be refunded personal income tax and social insurance paid during my time working in Japan" Mr. Hoang shared.

According to Mr. Pham Minh Thang, General Director of Thoi Dai Moi International Education Cooperation Co.Ltd., most workers choose to work abroad with the expectation of a high and stable income. Therefore, businesses operating in this field focus on selecting partners and orders with high salaries and safe working environments.

In addition, businesses also focus on training in language, culture, and vocational skills to help workers pass interviews easily; as well as creating a good impression with the recruiting unit so that workers can extend their expired visas.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Khanh Lam, Sales Director of the Da Nang branch of the TQC International Human Resources Cooperation and Trading JSC, said that in recent years, workers in the city have gradually become interested in labour export. As of late November 2024, the city sent 234 workers to work abroad under contracts, mainly in the markets of Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan (China). Also, the People's Committee of Hoa Vang District sent 699 agricultural workers to work seasonally in South Korea under the form of cooperation between the two localities.

Need for more support policies

Da Nang now has five businesses specialising in sending Vietnamese people to work abroad under labour contracts. To support locals to work abroad, the city branch of the Viet Nam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) is carrying out two loan programmes.

Accordingly, the labour export loan programme applies to workers from poor households meeting the central poverty threshold, ethnic minorities, near-poor households, relatives of people with meritorious services to the revolution, households whose agricultural land has been recovered, and people living in poor districts. The maximum loan amount is 100% of the cost of working abroad under the contract, and the interest rate is the same as the loan interest rate for poor households.

The loan programme for working in South Korea applies to workers from poor and near-poor households, ethnic minorities, relatives of people with meritorious services to the revolution, and households whose land has been recovered. The maximum loan amount does not exceed VND 100 million, and the loan interest rate is applied according to the loan interest rate of VBSP for workers working abroad under contract.

However, the representative of the city branch of VBSP said that since its implementation, there have been no customers borrowing capital from these two programmes due to the limitation on the subjects eligible for loans.

The representative of the Da Nang branch of the TQC International Human Resources Cooperation and Trading JSC, said that as for workers who do not have enough finance but cannot borrow capital from the bank, the company implements a policy of lending 40% of the cost without interest. Workers are paid gradually during their working time. Similarly, the Thoi Dai Moi International Education Cooperation Company Limited also applies a policy of lending 50% of the cost without interest. Workers are paid gradually within 6 months to 1 year of work.

According to the Employment Policy Office of the Da Nang Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, support policies for workers working abroad under contracts are implemented according to Government regulations. Accordingly, workers are supported with vocational training, foreign languages, knowledge training, and travel expenses from their place of residence to the training location, passport and visa procedures, health check-ups, and criminal records before going to work abroad. The city does not have specific policies on loans and support for workers working abroad.

Reporting by LAM PHUONG - Translating by M.DUNG