In 2024, about 500,000 Vietnamese working abroad remitted nearly $4 billion, contributing not only to family livelihoods but also to Vietnam’s socioeconomic development.

Speaking at the national conference preparing for the 18th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labor on August 25, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Cao Huy noted that Vietnam has a workforce of more than 53 million, including 24.7 million women. Vietnamese workers are now present in 43 countries and territories, with Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan (China) remaining top destinations, while new high-income markets like Australia, Germany, and Canada are opening opportunities.

Huy acknowledged challenges in global competition, especially limited professional skills, foreign languages, and work discipline. He stressed that Vietnamese workers must be better trained and upskilled to strengthen their position.

Vietnam, he added, consistently protects the rights of both foreign workers in Vietnam and Vietnamese workers overseas, while actively engaging in ASEAN commitments on migrant labor.

Digitization and diverse labor export models

Do Minh Anh from the Department of Overseas Labor Management said Vietnam has been improving its legal framework, strengthening worker protection, and boosting transparency. Digital platforms now connect workers directly with employers, with costs, procedures, and entitlements disclosed publicly.

“Digitized databases allow comprehensive management and provide workers with clear access to information, reducing risks,” Anh said.

Vietnam currently sends workers abroad through licensed service enterprises, public non-profit institutions under international agreements, contractors winning overseas projects, enterprises investing abroad and using their own workers, and individuals signing contracts directly under the law.

As of 2024, remittances to Vietnam totaled about $16 billion, with $4 billion coming from migrant workers. This has become a crucial source for both household stability and national development.

Moving forward, the Department of Overseas Labor Management will coordinate with ministries, provinces, and international partners to build a sustainable and fair labor migration ecosystem centered on workers.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) in Vietnam praised Vietnam’s approach, highlighting digital contract management, cost transparency, and closer oversight as essential to preventing overcharging and fraud. The ILO also stressed stronger protections for women, youth, and those in high-risk industries, along with more bilateral and multilateral agreements with destination countries.

“All migrant workers must be treated fairly, with access to legal, healthcare, and social security services. Vietnam is on the right path in building a sustainable labor migration ecosystem that both raises incomes and contributes to national development,” the ILO representative said.

PV