Over 46,000 leave Vietnam to work abroad in 2002
HANOI - More than 46,000 Vietnamese left the country in 2002
to seek work abroad, prompted by unemployment and the
possibility of higher wages, according to official figures
released on Friday.
Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea attracted the majority
of the 46,112 individuals, according to a Ministry of Labour
official.
Of those, more than 20,000 went to Malaysia, and 13,000 went
to South Korea, the official added.
The lure of foreign work is increasing with many ending up in the
region's industrial, electronic, textile, construction and even
shipping industries.
A Malaysian delegation visited Vietnam in December and talks
are in progress for the signing of an accord allowing for a larger
number of Vietnamese to Malaysia.
"We haven't yet signed anything but we hope to be able to do it
soon," an official at the Malaysian embassy in Hanoi said.
Those who go to Japan, relatively few in number, are generally
students and skilled workers.
Approximately 80-90 percent of the migrants are agricultural
labourers or without jobs.
Unemployment is officially put at six percent where a worker's
average monthly wage is 20 dollars. The authorities who actively
encourage workers to move to neighboring countries and hope
50,000 will seek work abroad in 2003.
Other than Malaysia, the Middle East -- in particular Lebanon
and the United Arab Emirates -- are becoming a favoured
destination.
In all the country "exports" its labour to 40 countries.
Around 160 agencies, mostly state-run are authorized to deal
with the migrants. Eight were closed down, according to the
local press.
"The good side of it is that Vietnamese learn about abroad.
They change and their view of work changes. The bad side is
that they don't know before they leave what the work conditions
will be like," said one foreign businessman.
The Tehran Times - January 04, 2003.
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