Illegal labor in China: Current situation and consequences

(Baonghean) - The need for rural workers in Nghe An to find jobs and income is a legitimate need, but illegal labor without identification papers going to other countries, especially China, is a worrying reality...

From the lowlands...

In recent years, in Quynh Luu district, illegal labor export to China has become popular. The cost is quite cheap, only 5 - 7 million VND to pay for the referral, connect with businesses in need of labor in China and buy some necessary items, with a salary of 5 - 7 million VND/month; if anyone is diligent and works in a large business, the income can reach 11 - 17 million VND/month.

One of the characteristics of the Chinese labor market is the large demand for unskilled labor, with diverse occupations, from carpentry, wood processing to light bulb production, motorcycle plastic products, doll production, seafood processing, sausages, etc. However, in general, because labor goes "illegally", the price is cheap, and most of the heaviest and most toxic jobs are undertaken by Vietnamese workers.

Mr. Tran Van Toan, hamlet 6, Son Hai commune (Quynh Luu) just returned from China and is reporting to the commune police. Photo: VH

In Yen Dinh hamlet, Quynh Hung commune (Quynh Luu), 2/3 of the hamlet's main labor force works illegally in China, some families leave their children with their grandparents to go to China to work. The whole Quynh Hung commune has over 400 people working in China, the most in the district. In addition, other communes such as Quynh Ba have about 300 people, Quynh Ngoc has over 100 people; and coastal communes such as Quynh Long have nearly 250 people, Quynh Thuan has 168 people, Son Hai has 150 people; other communes have an average of 30-50 people working illegally like that...

Mr. Ho Phuc Doa - Deputy Chief of Quynh Luu District Police said: Through the synthesis of the situation from the commune police, in the district there are approximately several thousand unskilled workers going to countries in the region, most of whom are working "illegally" in China. Faced with the above situation, through meetings, the district police have directed the commune police to actively propagate to the people not to work illegally. However, due to the pressure of work and income, it is very difficult to manage. Besides, currently, traveling to work anywhere is a citizen's right, when leaving the area, citizens only say they are going to work far away, without reporting that they are going to China; there are no documents required, so it is very difficult for the police to monitor, manage or prevent by administrative measures.

...to the upstream

Not only in coastal districts such as Quynh Luu, Hoang Mai Town, Dien Chau, Yen Thanh but also in mountainous districts such as Con Cuong, Tuong Duong or Quy Hop... the situation of illegal workers going to work in China is quite common. In Tam Quang commune, Tuong Duong district alone, there are about 100 workers going to China illegally to work.

In particular, in early May 2015, through a hotline, a resident of Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district reported that the area was "hot" with illegal labor in China; and currently, there was a subject who had fled to China and was now leading his "husband" who was Chinese and two Chinese men to "find a wife" in Thung Khang village, a village far from the commune center.

Ban Do 2 (Chau Binh commune). Photo: NL

In Chau Binh, in Do 2 village alone, there are currently about 30 people working illegally in China. According to the Party Secretary of Do 2 village - Mr. Lo Thanh Binh, the village has 119 households, over 500 people, mainly making a living from farming and raising livestock. The land of Do 2 village is small, so people's lives are difficult, with up to 81 poor households. Therefore, when someone in the commune comes back from China and talks about easy money, they follow, regardless of whether such a trip is illegal, can be arrested by the police, or other consequences. "We are very worried about the people, so we mention it in every village meeting. However, because of difficulties in life, many people still go illegally to China to work..." - Secretary Lo Thanh Binh said.

According to Chau Binh Commune Police Chief Lang Thanh Hoai, the illegal emigration of local people to China for work has been going on since 1997-1998 with about 10 people from the villages: Binh 1, Do 2, Do 3, Ke Can, 3-2. These people worked in China for a while, returned and told about their business situation, then brought their brothers and neighbors along. Up to now, according to statistics from Chau Binh Commune Police, the number of people illegally emigrating to China for work has reached 142 people; 4 people from Chau Binh are being arrested by Chinese police, including: Vi Thi Giang, Lo Thi Loan, Lang Thi Kiem, Vi Van Hoang, all from Do 3 village.

Consequences

According to the reflection of some workers who returned from China or were arrested and returned, Vietnamese workers in general and Nghe An workers in particular who illegally go to China mainly work in the provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi or Guangzhou. It is 5-7 hours by car from the border of Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. Normally, there is no problem because the workers mainly eat and stay in the factory and do not go out, but if there is a collision or fight between Vietnamese and Chinese people, the authorities will crack down quite strongly. At that time, the illegal Vietnamese workers are the most disadvantaged.

Mr. Tran Van Yen (45 years old) in Thanh Cong hamlet, Quynh Long commune (Quynh Luu) was just arrested and released by China and returned to Vietnam. He said: He was one of the unlucky workers who had just crossed the Chinese border and was on the bus to Dong Hung city (Guangzhou) when he was arrested; both father and son (son of Tran Van Duc) lost the entire cost of nearly 7 million VND/person. Tran Van Toan (19 years old) in hamlet 9, Son Hai commune (Quynh Luu) said: He went to sea at home but the income was too low, so when his friends invited him, he went right away. After half a month in China, he had to change jobs 3 times because of the harsh working conditions and the police chasing him. While on his way to find work in Guangxi, Toan was arrested and taken to Dong Hung city for detention. Among the 24 Vietnamese illegal workers arrested by the Chinese Border Guard, 5 were from Son Hai Commune, and Toan was one of the workers released (each commune was released 1 person)... According to Toan, if they are arrested without papers, they will be made homeless; after taking their statements, they will be deported back to their country; if they have papers and are arrested again, they will be punished more severely...

According to Mr. Tran Van Yen, besides good employers, there are employers who, in order to "dodge" their workers' wages, when it is time to pay, report to the police to check and chase the Vietnamese workers away so that they can run away to another place. On the other hand, when caught at the factory, the employer must pay a fine, bail them out, and then the employer will "force" the workers to return to work to deduct from their wages. For female workers, going to China to work illegally also has many other hidden dangers and complications...

It can be said that the most worrying thing is that the majority of illegal workers in China are young and active, so when they go there, the risk of contracting diseases and social evils is very unpredictable when they return. On the other hand, localities where illegal workers go en masse have to suffer the consequences of lacking the "golden labor force", the majority of those who remain in the locality are the elderly, women and children; production in the fields is delayed, many people want to rent but no one will hire them...

Lo Thi Hien's house in Do 2 village (Chau Binh). Photo: NL

Returning to the situation in Chau Binh commune (Quy Chau), the commune police confirmed that in Do 2 village, there is Lo Thi Hien, daughter of Loc Thi Thuc, who went to China to get married. Hien visits home quite often, and recently, Lo Thi Hien came to the commune to ask for an ID card, but her current whereabouts are unknown.

According to the police officer of Do 2 village, Mr. Lang Van Thanh, Lo Thi Hien returned home on April 27, 2015; according to the invitation, Hien's "husband" is named Ton Dung. When he saw Hien and her "husband" return with 2 Chinese people, Mr. Lang Van Thanh came to ask, Hien replied "they are visiting their birth mother, there is nothing to ask". Afterwards, Mr. Thanh reported the incident to the commune police. Mr. Thanh added: The incident of 2 Chinese men going to Thung Khang village, looking for 2 widows to ask to be their "wives" is true; during the meeting of Lo Thi Hien and her "husband" to introduce to the family, 2 Chinese men and 2 widows from Thung Khang village were all present. Is Lo Thi Hien currently in the village? Mr. Lang Van Thanh said that Hien left the village on May 4, 2015.

On May 5, 2015, when passing by Hien's relative's house, Mr. Lang Van Thanh discovered 2 Chinese people in the house. Mr. Thanh said: One of them was Lo Thi Hien's husband. Quickly approaching, Lo Thi Hien's "husband" and the Chinese man were about 30 years old. Regarding the incident of Chinese people coming to the village to "find a wife", according to the Party Secretary of Do 2 village, Lo Thanh Binh: "If the commune police had done a good job of management, such an incident would not have happened"...

Two Chinese men at a meal in Do 2 village, Chau Binh commune (Quy Chau). Photo: NL

Manage?

Regarding the situation of illegal workers in China being continuously arrested, a representative of Son Hai Commune Police (Quynh Luu) said: In the commune, there have been many cases of citizens being arrested and released, most recently 5 citizens were arrested, 1 of whom has returned but 4 have not been released, so relatives and neighbors are very confused. The commune has reported to the district police to find a solution to grasp information about the arrested citizens in order to have a solution to intervene. However, from these phenomena, Son Hai Commune Police once again widely informed to warn citizens to be cautious; do not listen to enticements, if there is a network of illegal laborers being sent to China, report to the police so that the authorities can investigate and handle it strictly. Mr. Dang Minh Hoai - Deputy Head of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Quynh Luu District admitted: The district has only managed licensed labor exports, but the "illegal" labor sector has not been able to be grasped. In the coming time, the department will direct the review of the situation and report to the District People's Committee to have a plan for propaganda, education and citizen management.

It is not yet possible to confirm whether there are 3 Chinese people in Chau Binh commune, whether they came to "find a wife" or for some other purpose. However, according to Article 33 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, foreigners temporarily residing in Vietnam must, through the person directly managing the accommodation facility, declare their temporary residence to the police of the commune, ward, town or police station where the accommodation facility is located (within 24 hours for remote areas); in addition, the responsibility of the commune, ward and town authorities is to clearly understand and manage the residence and activities of foreigners in the locality and to handle violations. Therefore, the above-mentioned Chinese people and their families staying in Chau Binh have violated the law; in addition, the Chau Binh Commune Police have not fulfilled their assigned responsibilities...

PV - CTV