It is crucial to enhance the role of trade unions in protectingguest workers to minimise their risks, said a conference jointly held bythe Vietnam General Labour Confederation (VGLC) and the InternationalLabour Organisation (ILO) in Hanoi on July 10.

According to the VGLC, the number of Vietnamese guest workers is likelyto rise. About 70 percent of the workers are from rural areas with lowvocational skills and experience leading to high risks in their jobs.

Many Vietnamese workers who paid substantial sums toreceive jobs abroad without protection had to return home beforeexpected and fell into debt.

Besides a number ofworkers with expired contracts refused to return to Vietnam and stayedin the host country to seek new forms of employment, affecting Vietnam’slabour export activities and the workers themselves.

The VGLC attributed the situation to a lack of effective policies toprotect guest workers coupled with inefficient laws and poorcollaboration among relevant parties.

Ineffectivelaw enforcement and limited worker access to the judicial system arealso behind the situation, according to the confederation.

Ahn Pong-sul, an expert from the ILO, said experiences from othercountries show that the role of trade unions in observing labourerrights is significant due to the union’s capacity to supervise themigration process and working conditions as well as giving legal supportto labourers.

Participants at the event agreed thatit is necessary to add a regulation on labourer rights to receivingsupport in negotiating recruitment deals. Trade unions should alsostrengthen supervision over the implementation of contracts to maketimely adjustments for the better protection of workers’ rights.-VNA