30,000 workers
Ha Noi, Dec. 31 (VNA) -- Viet Nam sent about 30,000 citizens to work abroad in 2000 as planned, according to the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).
Seventy percent of them were professional workers.
Taiwan, the Republic of Korea, Laos and Japan are major markets for Viet Nam's labour exports.
The amount of foreign currency sent to the country by Vietnamese guest workers reached USD 1.25 billion this year.
The export of workers and experts is considered a strategic socio-economic activity, which not only contributes to generating jobs but also to developing human resources and creating long-term forces for the national development.
The MoLISA has closely coordinated with the Foreign Ministry and Finance Ministry to expand markets for labour exports, and simplify procedures for enterprises and workers. The Ministry has implemented measures to stabilise and develop current labour markets, in which special attention should be paid to raising the quality of labour export resources.
Currently, Vietnamese are working in nearly 40 countries and territories worldwide, mainly in northeastern Asia and several countries in northern Africa.
Viet Nam has to date sent 400,000 workers and experts to work abroad since 1980, with nearly 160 companies granted licenses for sending workers abroad.
The country is striving to have about one million workers and experts working abroad from 2010, with 40,000-50,000 in 2005. About 50,000 workers are expected to be sent to work abroad next year.
To reach the target, the State will spend more money in years to come to accelerate exports of workers and experts involved in market development and training workers and experts with professional skills and foreign languages and a staff of professional managers in labour exports.
Forms and occupations for labour exports will be diversified.
The State will strictly reform administrative procedures, eliminate cumbersome regulations for workers and business and reduce workers' minimum contributions before leaving for foreign countries.
It will encourage enterprises, workers, cadres, local branches and agencies to hold training courses to raise the quality of labour resources.--VNA
