The Government News on October 22 quoted the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), as reporting that as many as 113,896 workers have been sent abroad to work under labor contracts in the first nine months of this year.

Vietnam expects to send 130,000 workers abroad under labor contracts in 2024, surpassing the country's initial target by 4 per cent.

Japan remained the top importer of manpower from Vietnam with 56,566 workers, followed by Taiwan (China) with 43,690, and South Korea with 6,276.

Other destinations employing Vietnamese guest workers included China with 1,704 workers, Singapore 1,040, Romania 670, and Hungary 449.

Approximately 700,000 Vietnamese workers are now working in 40 countries and territories, across more than 30 different occupational sectors.

Besides key traditional markets, the MOLISA is exploring other potential markets to further boost manpower export.

On September 6, the MOISA and the Australian Embassy announced the implementation of support measures for Vietnamese citizens under the program on support of Vietnamese citizens undertaking work in the Australian agricultural sector.

As part of the labor mobility program between the two countries, the Australian Government will permit up to 1,000 Vietnamese workers to be employed in its agricultural sector at point in time.

Accordingly, participating Vietnamese workers can undertake short-term work (lasting 6-9 months) or long-term assignments (1-4 years). The job positions available require only low to semi-skilled agricultural work, including crop cultivation, meat processing, aquaculture (including fish farming), and forestry.