Which high-paying labor market is attracting many Vietnamese people?

At the meeting with Mr. Kim Sung Jae - Vice President of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea), Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan emphasized that, with the close cooperation of HRD Korea, the Employment Permit Program for Foreign Workers (EPS Program) has been implemented effectively, fairly, objectively and transparently. Thereby, it has brought many high-income jobs to Vietnamese workers as well as contributed to the development of Korean enterprises, deepening the labor cooperation relationship between the two countries in general as well as the strategic cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Korea.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Ba Hoan informed: Since the implementation of the Program, Vietnam has sent more than 126,977 workers to work in Korea. From the beginning to the end of October 2023, Vietnam sent 9,582 workers, and it is expected that in 2023, it will strive to achieve the target of over 10,000 workers going to work in Korea under the EPS Program.

For Vietnamese people, Korea is a high-income market, culturally close, so it attracts many workers to choose to work there. Therefore, Deputy Minister Nguyen Ba Hoan suggested that HRD Korea report to the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor to increase the admission quota for Vietnamese workers. As well as increase the number of successful candidates in Korean language exams to avoid waste, causing costs for workers, and reduce the cost of accessing the EPS Program. The Deputy Minister cited: In the first round of the Korean language exam in 2023, Vietnam had 5,225 workers registered to participate in the shipbuilding industry; however, the Korean side allocated the admission quota to 1,149 people. If only taking the number of workers who meet the requirements according to the allocated quota, the rate is only 21.9%.

In addition to the proposal to announce early Korean language exams so that workers can proactively learn Korean, improving efficiency and quality, Deputy Minister Nguyen Ba Hoan suggested that the Korean side consider promoting policies to support employment and start-ups. Along with that, it is necessary to regularly organize vocational training courses and career guidance for repatriated workers so that workers can develop their careers and family economy sustainably, contributing to reducing the rate of illegal residence after the contract expires.

In response to the proposals of Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan, Vice President of HRD Korea Kim Sung Jae said that Vietnam is the leading country in the number of workers sent to work in Korea under the EPS Program out of 16 participating countries. Some Vietnamese workers after returning home have successfully started their own businesses and have a good life.

HRD Korea Vice President Kim Sung Jae will report and advise Korean authorities to increase the quota under the EPS Program for Vietnam. HRD Korea will announce Korean language exams early, study factors to arrange more Korean language exam rooms in Can Tho province to make it more convenient for workers in the Southern region to participate.