Programme to send Vietnamese workers to RoK resumed

A scheme aimed at sending Vietnamese guest workers to the Republic of Korea (RoK) resumed on May 21 after being suspended for over a year due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The resumption of the project saw an Asiana Airlines flight bring a group of 24 Vietnamese workers to the RoK on May 20 in line with the terms of an agreement to send and receive Vietnamese workers as approved by Vietnam’s Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor during March of this year.

The move is part of great efforts being made by relevant Vietnamese and RoK authorities to arrange flights to repatriate local citizens and workers whose contracts have expired, along with negotiating to request the RoK create favourable conditions for Vietnamese labourers to return to work amid the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic.

Representatives from the RoK stated that further Vietnamese workers will be sent to the RoK to work this year, adding that the East Asian nation will welcome roughly 8,200 Vietnamese workers, of which 8,000 are currently working in the manufacturing industry and 200 in the fishing industry.

Demand for foreign workers, especially those from Vietnam, among small and medium enterprises in the RoK is high following their economy recovering this year

Son Sung Won, from the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (KBIZ) revealed that Vietnamese workers boast plenty of good characteristics such as diligence, agility, and skillful workmanship.

These are therefore several reasons for Vietnam to be granted a higher recruitment target by the RoK compared to other regional countries.

He emphasised that moving forward, relevant Vietnamese agencies should pay close attention to helping workers complete domestic procedures, such as deposits and pandemic insurance to seize upon opportunities in the RoK labour market moving into the post-COVID-19 era.

Concurring with this viewpoint, Kim Seong-jae, vice chairman of the Human Resource Development Service of Korea said that Vietnamese workers are highly regarded as hard-working, honest, and respected by business managers in the RoK.

At present, approximately 19,000 Vietnamese migrant workers under the EPS programme are living and working legally in the RoK, which is expected to contribute to further developing friendly co-operation and economic development both sides.

Currently, due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, commercial flights have been suspended, with both nations ramping up epidemic prevention measures.

Vietnamese workers entering the RoK must undergo a 14-day quarantine in accordance to local government regulations and will be tested for COVID-19 twice.