Hanoi (VNA) 🎐- Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan held a working session in Hanoi on February 18 with a delegation from the Ministry of Trade and Export Development of Canada’s Saskatchewan led by Minister Warren Kaeding to promote cooperation in sending Vietnamese citizens to work in the province in the coming time.

Hoan emphasised that in recent years, the collaboration between Vietnam and Canada has continuously developed, particularly in the areas of trade and investment. However, he noted that bilateral labour cooperation remains modest, despite Canada's high demand for labour and Vietnam's abundant workforce, with a population in its golden demographic period. According to the official, in 2010, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MoLISA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour regarding cooperation in the fields of labour, employment, and human resources development. However, the implementation of the MoU has not achieved the expected results for both parties. To date, no Vietnamese workers have gone to Canada to work under this programme. Warren said that Saskatchewan, as the fifth-largest economy in Canada, needs around 150,000 skilled foreign workers from now to 2030 to meet its development requirements. In addition, the province’s legal system continues improving, offering better protection of workers, while the education system is developing as well, supporting workers in enhancing their skills when working there. The minister expressed his hope to strengthen bilateral labour cooperation to increase the number of Vietnamese workers in the province. He also emphasised the importance of preventing illegal migration and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of labourers. Stressing that Vietnam has approximately 52 million people of working age, and annually sends about 150,000 to 160,000 individuals to work in 40 countries and territories under contracts, Hoan shared that the MoLISA is currently licensing and managing over 500 enterprises that send workers abroad. Therefore, Vietnam is fully capable of meeting the labour needs of Saskatchewan. He also proposed both sides engage in discussions and negotiations to sign a new MoU to replace the previously signed one, as many of the provisions in the old one are no longer aligned with Canadian law as well as regulations of Saskatchewan and Vietnam. The two sides agreed to strive for the signing of the new MoU in mid-2025./.