What job opportunities are there for workers returning home to avoid the epidemic?

Waiting for the opportunity to continue exporting labor

Mr. Phan Van Sy in Hamlet 7, Duc Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh) has just returned to Vietnam and finished his centralized quarantine in mid-March. Since then, Mr. Sy has been taking advantage of his time and savings to build a house large enough for a family of four. Returning to Vietnam because his contract expired at the same time as the epidemic broke out, Mr. Sy has only focused on completing the house, because at this time he does not know what other job to do to increase his family's income.

Mr. Pham Van Sy, hamlet 7, Duc Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, talks with commune policy officers. Photo: Thanh Nga

“After the contract expired, my employer renewed my contract for another 3 years, but because of the pandemic, I had to return home, not knowing if I would be able to come again. Although I did not want to go far, and had to do quite hard outdoor construction work, after the pandemic, I still hoped to return because if I stayed home, it would be very difficult to find a job.”

Also in Hamlet 7, Duc Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh), Mr. Ha Huy Trinh has been doing business in Laos for 5-6 years now. “I had to return home to avoid the epidemic since mid-March, and during that time I tried to do welding to earn more income. We are waiting for the Lao Government to announce that we are allowed to open the border gate so that we can continue our work there,” said Mr. Trinh.

Mr. Ha Huy Trinh, hamlet 7, Duc Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) said that he will return to work in Laos when the border gate is cleared and the epidemic situation is well controlled. Photo: Thanh Nga

Most of the workers who went to Laos to work in Duc Thanh commune returned this time to avoid the epidemic and hope to continue going, but there are also people who think differently. "Many Nghe An people have failed in business in Laos. Previously, they stayed to trade and compensate for the loss, but now many goods from Vietnam cannot be circulated, so they returned this time, both to avoid the epidemic and to hope to go to other countries with higher incomes," said Mr. Trinh.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thom - policy officer of Duc Thanh commune: "By the end of 2019, the commune had 242 people working abroad, but because of the Covid-19 epidemic, 132 people returned to avoid the epidemic, most of them were people working in Laos and interns in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Up to now, many people have been preparing to return to Korea, because they went to study abroad and when they returned home, they were promised to call them back after the epidemic was controlled. The rest, if they went outside the contract, would find it very difficult to return and most of them want to find new markets."

In Nghi Loc district, there have been 1,200 workers returning home and this number is likely to increase in the coming time. "Among the workers returning home this time, many have expired labor contracts or went "illegally", so it is very difficult to transfer them. Many people confirmed that they will borrow money to continue working abroad in the near future," said Mr. Dang Van Luong - Head of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Nghi Loc district.

How to solve employment?

Nghe An workers return home to avoid the epidemic. Photo courtesy

According to Mr. Hoang Danh Truyen - Vice Chairman of Yen Thanh District People's Committee, by the end of 2019, Yen Thanh district had up to 17,000 people working in Laos, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and European countries. Most of them went to other countries to work without labor contracts. Since the Lunar New Year 2020, Yen Thanh district has also been the locality with the largest number of people returning home to avoid the epidemic in the province, up to 1,400 people.

“However, when surveying the wishes of these workers, they all expressed their desire to return to the country where they previously worked. Even those without contracts still continue to go. If they do not go to the old market, they will choose a new market with more affordable costs,” said Mr. Hoang Danh Truyen.

According to Mr. Truyen, if they go to work abroad, most people do not want to stay home to produce, do business or stick to the fields, even though the locality has many mechanisms and policies to solve employment.

Job fair for workers held in Con Cuong at the end of 2019. Photo courtesy

“Currently, Yen Thanh vocational school is opening elementary and intermediate classes with occupations that are relatively close to market demand. If local workers are willing to work for domestic manufacturing enterprises, they will still have income, but most workers returning home do not follow this direction,” Mr. Truyen said, adding that in the near future, the locality will attract investment in a garment factory project in Cong Thanh Industrial Park. At that time, it is hoped that on-site employment will be better, workers will increase their income without having to invest risky capital, nor need to go far; while farming, they can still work extra for factories to increase their income.

“The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has completed reviewing the number of workers returning home during this pandemic and has issued a plan to resolve employment for them. Accordingly, for workers working under temporary contracts who have to return home due to the pandemic, if they wish to return, we request that businesses with the function of sending workers to work abroad coordinate with partners abroad to support and create conditions for them to return to work under contract."

Mr. Tran Phi Hung - Head of Employment and Labor Safety Department(Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs))

"For workers working abroad without labor contracts, we will advise and introduce them to markets in countries with potential for stable income. In addition, we will continue to promote vocational training, foreign languages, and awareness of compliance with the laws of the host country.

"Guide service businesses, Nghe An Employment Service Center and localities in coordinating to select and send workers to work abroad under contracts to ensure compliance with legal regulations and effectiveness. In addition, for workers who do not want to participate in labor export or do not meet the requirements of foreign markets, the province will support career transition and promote job counseling and referrals inside and outside the province," Mr. Hung added.

According to the review reports of districts, cities, towns and related sectors, there are currently 91,838 Nghe An workers working abroad, of which 69,687 are contract workers, 24,931 are non-contract workers, mainly concentrated in Taiwan with 26,544 people; Japan with 24,931 people; South Korea with 12,609 people...

Thanh Nga