Continue to mobilize illegal workers residing in Korea to return home
(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of September 17, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs held a conference to propagate and mobilize workers working in Korea to return home according to regulations in 2023.
Attending the conference were Mr. Ni Si Za Wa - Chief Representative of IM Japan in Vietnam; Ms. Pham Ngoc Lan - Deputy Director of Overseas Labor Center, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.
On the provincial side, there was Mr. Doan Hong Vu - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee,Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, along with leaders representing the localities: Cua Lo, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen (the 3 localities whose recruitment of workers under the EPS program has been temporarily suspended) and relatives of workers working in Korea or residing illegally in Korea.
Still2,311 illegal workers in Korea
Up to now, the number of Nghe An workers going abroad under the EPS program is 9,396 people, the highest in the country. On average, every year, 500 - 700 workers of the province are selected by Korean enterprises and sent to work with a salary of 1,000 - 1,500 USD/person, contributing to poverty reduction, legitimate enrichment and increasing foreign currency income for the province.
However, currently, many Vietnamese workers working in Korea under the EPS program change their jobs, do not return home on time according to the contract, stay in Korea to work and reside illegally. This has a significant impact on the labor cooperation between Vietnam and Korea. As of the end of July 2018, the rate of illegal workers not returning home in the province was 48.18% (ranked 16th in the country).
After synchronously and drastically implementing the above contents, there have been certain results. According to Notice No. 234/TTLĐNN-HTVL dated April 5, 2023 of the Overseas Labor Center on reviewing the list of workers going to work in Korea under the EPS program who are residing illegally in Korea, as of March 31, 2023, Nghe An province currently has 2,311 workers residing illegally in Korea. Of which, Nghi Loc district (with 365 workers), Nam Dan (with 228 workers), and Cua Lo town (with 212 workers) are temporarily suspending the selection of workers under the EPS program.
Difficulty in mobilizing workers to return home on time
At the conference, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said that illegal workers residing in Korea was due to the fact that the propaganda and mobilization work of illegal workers working and residing in Korea by districts, towns and cities was not drastic, regular and continuous. The direction of communes, wards and towns to sign commitments with families of workers working in Korea was not implemented well.
A large number of workers only think about their own interests, not the interests of the country, the community and the interests of thousands of other workers who are looking forward to working in Korea. Many families and relatives of workers even persuade their children, siblings and relatives to stay in Korea. This is the most fundamental and difficult reason in propagating and mobilizing workers to return home during this time.
Besides, the number of illegal workers in Nghe An is also due to the fact that the sanctions of Korea and Vietnam are not strong enough to deter Korean employers and Vietnamese workers.
The employment situation of local workers is difficult, income is low and unstable, moreover, the income of workers in Korea is high so workers do not want to return home.
In addition, there are few workers who have passed the Korean language test after returning home but are allowed to go back to Korea to work. Many workers have completed their documents and are waiting to go to Korea to work, so this affects the psychology of workers working in Korea and they do not want to return.
Propose solutions
The conference also received many comments regarding the time limit for the penalty to be removed: Not allowed to return to Korea; What benefits will workers receive when returning to their country; If they are illegal residents and return, how long will it take to return to Korea as tourists?
To answer these questions, Ms. Pham Ngoc Lan - Deputy Director of the Overseas Labor Center, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said: All workers who return home on time will continue to return to Korea without having to pass the Korean language test the next time, in addition, their relatives will also have the opportunity to work in the land of Kim Chi easily at the same time. For workers who have resided illegally and now return, they must carry out a temporary suspension of work and travel.
Speaking at the conference, comrade Doan Hong Vu said: In the coming time, the Department will coordinate with localities and related departments to continue implementing solutions to propagate and mobilize 2,301 illegal workers to return home, especially in districts, cities and towns with 60 or more illegal workers that the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has temporarily suspended. Focus on coordinating with the Overseas Labor Center to complete the documents and procedures, creating conditions for 612 workers who have passed the Korean Language Certificate to go to Korea to work. At the same time, promptly inform workers to return home on time to participate in computer-based Korean language tests and support exemplary workers to complete exit procedures to return to Korea to work.
Continue to strengthen information and propaganda work on preferential policies for workers returning home on time such as being recruited to work again, being introduced to Korean enterprises investing in Vietnam, being trained to start a business for free, etc. Advise against being arrested, deported, banned from working in Korea, and being punished for violating or not complying with regulations when working in Korea. Mobilize families of workers whose contracts will expire in the last months of 2023 to return home on time.