Nghe An will 'do everything' to bring illegal workers in Korea back home

(Baonghean.vn) - With the rate of Nghe An workers residing illegally in Korea increasing, the leader of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said that in the near future, they will do everything possible to bring these cases back.

On the morning of August 15, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Nghe An province coordinated with the Department of Overseas Labor Management to organize a conference to propagate and mobilize workers working in Korea to return home on time and illegal workers to voluntarily return home.

Overview of the conference. Photo: Tien Hung.

“In order to reduce illegal labor in Korea, the Department has advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue 6 directives. At the same time, it directly issued 12 directives and instructions to localities to propagate and mobilize expired workers to return home. But it was not effective,” Mr. Dang Cao Thang, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, opened the conference.

Previously, this department also coordinated with the Department of Overseas Labor Management and the Overseas Labor Center to organize 17 propaganda conferences in districts with the most illegal workers. "But all of them were not very effective," Mr. Thang repeatedly emphasized the "ineffectiveness" and said that this was the reason why the organizing committee invited all leaders of districts, towns, communes and wards; heads of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs; representatives of families with illegal workers; workers who have been checked, qualified but have not been able to leave the country... to find effective solutions.

Mr. Dang Cao Thang said that Nghe An will do everything to bring illegal workers back to the country. Photo: Tien Hung.

Since the Korean Employment Permit Program for Foreign Workers (EPS Program, 2005), Nghe An province has had more than 7,400 workers go to work in this country. On average, 500-700 people leave the country each year with a salary of 20-30 million VND.

However, since 2011, there has been a situation where Vietnamese workers change employers without reason, and after their contracts expire, they refuse to return home and stay illegally. In 2016, this rate in Nghe An was 43.18%, ranking 15th in the country. Therefore, in the past 2 years, up to 11 districts and towns in Nghe An have been banned from going to Korea to work. "The illegal rate ranks 15th, but in terms of quantity, it ranks first. Because there are a lot of Nghe An workers going to work in Korea," said Mr. Thang.

As of July 2017, this number has increased to nearly 2,500 workers. Of which, the districts with the largest number of illegal workers include Nghi Loc (373 people), Vinh City (255 people), Cua Lo (250 people)...

“We will not discuss the consequences of this anymore, that has been said a lot. Now we need to find an effective solution. We must bring illegal workers back to the country by all means,” Mr. Thang said, at the same time asking the heads of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of some districts to propose specific solutions and develop an implementation plan in the coming time.

Mr. Dang Sy Dung speaks at the conference. Photo: Tien Hung.

Sharing the same opinion with Mr. Thang, Mr. Dang Sy Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Overseas Labor Management (Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs), said that recently, the number of illegal workers from Nghe An in Korea has not decreased despite the drastic efforts in propaganda and mobilization. "For example, in Nghi Loc district, the head of the labor department reported that the district currently has 326 illegal workers. But that number is from the beginning of this year. Up to now, there have been nearly 50 others whose visas have expired but have refused to return," Mr. Dung said.

The conference also heard many comments from local leaders, sectors and concerns of a number of illegal workers who were encouraged to return home.

An illegal worker working in South Korea. Photo: Tien Hung.

After summarizing the opinions of the delegates, Mr. Dang Cao Thang said that in the near future, he will propose that the central ministries and branches continue to coordinate with Korea to have stronger solutions, especially in propaganda and handling. He proposed to add sanctions and clarify regulations on families with relatives residing illegally, the next person will not be allowed to go. He encouraged localities to do a good job of propaganda and mobilization.

“Wards and communes need to post a list of illegal workers and publicize their names. If this is still ineffective, continue to announce it on local loudspeakers. Organize signing of commitments. Include it in the criteria for classifying cultural households,” said Mr. Thang.

Tien Hung