Managing illegal migrant workers: Appropriate policies needed

(Baonghean) - Currently, Nghe An has a large number and rate of workers whose contracts have expired illegally in Korea. Therefore, there needs to be appropriate mechanisms and policies to meet the needs of workers to renew their contracts without violating the laws of the host country. Regarding this issue, Nghe An Newspaper reporters had an interview with Mr. Dang Cao Thang - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

PV:Could you please tell us about the current situation of Nghe An workers whose contracts have expired and are illegally residing in Korea?

Comrade Dang Cao Thang:From 2007 to 2012, on average, every year the whole province had 500 - 700 workers leaving for Korea to work under the Foreign Labor Permit Program (EPS). As of October 31, 2014, out of the total of more than 75,000 Vietnamese workers working in Korea under the EPS Program, the number of workers with permanent residence in Nghe An working in Korea was about more than 4,500 people; Of which, 555 workers left the country in 2014 when the EPS Program was resumed, the rest were workers who left the country before September 2012 and still had their labor contracts... By the end of October 2014, the number of Nghe An workers working in Korea whose labor contracts had expired was 173, but 84 of them were residing illegally in the neighboring country, accounting for nearly 48.5%, while the national average was 39.41%.

Vietnamese workers go to Korea to work. Photo: Phung Trong

PV:How does the situation of Vietnamese workers in general and Nghe An workers in particular with expired labor contracts and illegal residence in Korea affect labor export?

Comrade Dang Cao Thang:First of all, it must be affirmed that Korea is a high-income market, with monthly salaries ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 USD/person. However, due to the situation of workers seeking to stay illegally after their contracts expired, the Korean side stopped implementing the agreement to send Vietnamese workers to Korea from August 2012 to December 2013. As a result, 2,075 workers who passed the Korean language test, including more than 200 workers in poor districts according to Resolution 30a of the Government, had to wait for the opportunity to leave the country. At the end of 2013, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs signed a special memorandum of understanding with the Korean Ministry of Labor to continue sending Vietnamese workers to work under the EPS Program within 1 year, with the condition that the number of illegal workers will be reduced to less than 30% (from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2014). However, currently, the rate of illegal Vietnamese workers in Korea is nearly 40%.

PV:According to you, what is the cause of Vietnamese workers residing illegally in Korea?

Comrade Dang Cao Thang:First of all, there is the difference in income levels between Korea and Vietnam. Most Vietnamese workers who go to work in Korea under the EPS Program are unskilled workers, but in Korea, they are paid a minimum wage of 1,000 USD/month, much higher than the income level in Vietnam. In addition, there are many opinions that Korea does not strictly handle Korean enterprises that employ illegal workers, leading to many enterprises to tolerate workers whose residency contracts have expired, working illegally to pay low wages, to evade taxes... In addition, according to many localities, there is still a situation where workers who go to work in Korea have to pay brokerage and labor export agencies many times higher than the regulations, so they try to work extra to make up for the costs they have spent.

PV:So what solutions has Nghe An had to overcome this situation? As a manager, do you think there should be more appropriate mechanisms and policies to meet the needs of workers without violating the laws of the host country?

Comrade Dang Cao Thang:In 2014, our province made efforts to implement propaganda and mobilization measures to encourage provincial workers whose labor contracts in Korea expired to return home on time (4 propaganda and mobilization conferences were organized, including 1 provincial conference and 3 conferences in Quynh Luu, Nghi Loc districts and Vinh city). In addition, districts, cities and towns also proactively issued many directive and propaganda documents and took measures such as: publicly posting at the headquarters of the People's Committees of communes, wards, towns and hamlets the list of workers whose contracts have expired and who are staying and working illegally, the list of workers whose contracts are about to expire; mobilizing families to commit to encouraging their relatives to return home on time; propagating on the radio system at all levels about preferential policies and sanctions prescribed by the State. In addition, it is necessary to strictly handle brokerage and labor export supply units that commit fraud and charge fees exceeding the permitted regulations for labor export to Korea to reduce the cost burden for workers.

Along with that, the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs will also recommend that the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs continue to advise the Government to discuss with the Korean side to change the time frame for labor contracts of Vietnamese people in Korea; create conditions for workers who wish to stay and work long-term, legally, have stable jobs and income; have reasonable policies for workers whose labor contracts have expired to have the opportunity to return to continue participating in labor export, relieving the anxiety of workers who are afraid of returning home and not being able to continue participating in labor export programs. Currently, there are many Korean enterprises that have been developing business in Vietnam in many fields such as industry, agriculture, etc. These enterprises may need workers with experience working in Korea. That could be an output for Vietnamese workers when returning from Korea. However, while there are no new regulations, we still have to respect the law as well as the current signed agreements with Korea. There is no other way, relatives, families, authorities and society must mobilize workers to return home on time.

PV:Thank you, comrade!

Minh Quan(Perform)