General Director of the Overseas Labour Management Department under theMinistry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) Nguyen NgocQuynh spoke with the Vietnam Business Forum about how Vietnameseworkers, businesses and managers should approach the Japanese marketwhich is considered big but highly demanding.
According to Quynh,in 2013 the Japanese market received some 10,000 Vietnamese trainees.The demand of Japanese businesses is diversified mostly in construction,mechanics, food processing, fisheries, etc.
*What does the Japanese labour market attract to Vietnamese labourers ?
Japan is regarded as a potential market for Vietnam in terms of both labour demand and wages.
In recent years, Japanese demand for Vietnamese workers has increasedsharply. It is also more diverse, from technical industry toagriculture, electronics assembly, food processing, interior decoration,and others.
The demand is huge but depends on the negotiatingability of Vietnamese businesses. Vietnam has recently succeeded insending medical workers to get further training and work in Japan. Thisis a good news for Vietnam and its workers.
*Then, under what form does the Japanese market receive Vietnamese workers?
Japandoes not accept foreign workers with low professionalism, but traineeswith good professional skills. Vietnam started sending trainees to Japanin 1992. However, due to high percentage of labour contract violations,the figure decreased to some 3,000 trainees a year.
After theissuance of Decree 141/2005/ND-CP on management of Vietnamese guestworkers (later becoming a law), MOLISA has improved recruitment,training and management works. Contract violations dropped from 30percent to some 2 percent. As a result of it, the number of trainees hasincreased each year.
Vietnam has cooperated with IMM Japan(Japanese SME international human resources development organisation) toprovide trainees with necessary skills to work in Japan.This free ofcharge programme has helped the target group in disadvantaged Vietnameseprovinces to get training in Japan on technology with high sense ofwork discipline.
*Can Vietnamese labourers meet Japan's labour skill requirements ?
Asmentioned above, Japan does not accept foreign workers of lowprofessionalism, but provides training for guest workers coming fromdeveloping countries including Vietnam. In fact, many Japanese companieshave already employed Vietnamese workers and are very pleased withthem. They have especially appreciated Vietnamese guest workers fortheir hard-working, and learning willingness. Still, there are somecases of poor discipline and low capacity.
*Then, what should Vietnamese workers, businesses and managers do to promote labour export to Japan?
Thedoor is open for Vietnamese workers to work in the attractive Japanesemarket. However, the highly demanding labour market requires strictconditions. Professional training is the key to be able to enter theJapanese labour market. We must enhance the selection of trainees tomeet requirements of Japanese partners, and avoid negative consequencesthat may cause losses in terms of both finance and reputation.
Secondly,Vietnamese businesses must have good strategies and invest in humancapital. Vietnamese guest workers need to be provided with soft skillsto work overseas. Developing good relationship with reliable Japanesecounterparts is also vital for doing business in Japan.
Besidesthis, Vietnamese authorities need to persuade Japanese side to extendtraining time for trainees, take strong measures against the illegal useof foreign workers in Japan, as well as dealing with Vietnamese guestworkers refusing to return home after their work contracts expire.-VNA
According to Quynh,in 2013 the Japanese market received some 10,000 Vietnamese trainees.The demand of Japanese businesses is diversified mostly in construction,mechanics, food processing, fisheries, etc.
*What does the Japanese labour market attract to Vietnamese labourers ?
Japan is regarded as a potential market for Vietnam in terms of both labour demand and wages.
In recent years, Japanese demand for Vietnamese workers has increasedsharply. It is also more diverse, from technical industry toagriculture, electronics assembly, food processing, interior decoration,and others.
The demand is huge but depends on the negotiatingability of Vietnamese businesses. Vietnam has recently succeeded insending medical workers to get further training and work in Japan. Thisis a good news for Vietnam and its workers.
*Then, under what form does the Japanese market receive Vietnamese workers?
Japandoes not accept foreign workers with low professionalism, but traineeswith good professional skills. Vietnam started sending trainees to Japanin 1992. However, due to high percentage of labour contract violations,the figure decreased to some 3,000 trainees a year.
After theissuance of Decree 141/2005/ND-CP on management of Vietnamese guestworkers (later becoming a law), MOLISA has improved recruitment,training and management works. Contract violations dropped from 30percent to some 2 percent. As a result of it, the number of trainees hasincreased each year.
Vietnam has cooperated with IMM Japan(Japanese SME international human resources development organisation) toprovide trainees with necessary skills to work in Japan.This free ofcharge programme has helped the target group in disadvantaged Vietnameseprovinces to get training in Japan on technology with high sense ofwork discipline.
*Can Vietnamese labourers meet Japan's labour skill requirements ?
Asmentioned above, Japan does not accept foreign workers of lowprofessionalism, but provides training for guest workers coming fromdeveloping countries including Vietnam. In fact, many Japanese companieshave already employed Vietnamese workers and are very pleased withthem. They have especially appreciated Vietnamese guest workers fortheir hard-working, and learning willingness. Still, there are somecases of poor discipline and low capacity.
*Then, what should Vietnamese workers, businesses and managers do to promote labour export to Japan?
Thedoor is open for Vietnamese workers to work in the attractive Japanesemarket. However, the highly demanding labour market requires strictconditions. Professional training is the key to be able to enter theJapanese labour market. We must enhance the selection of trainees tomeet requirements of Japanese partners, and avoid negative consequencesthat may cause losses in terms of both finance and reputation.
Secondly,Vietnamese businesses must have good strategies and invest in humancapital. Vietnamese guest workers need to be provided with soft skillsto work overseas. Developing good relationship with reliable Japanesecounterparts is also vital for doing business in Japan.
Besidesthis, Vietnamese authorities need to persuade Japanese side to extendtraining time for trainees, take strong measures against the illegal useof foreign workers in Japan, as well as dealing with Vietnamese guestworkers refusing to return home after their work contracts expire.-VNA
