Binh Duong (VNA) – Vietnam is now home to more than 80,000 foreign workers, accordingto Le Quang Trung, deputy head of the Department of Employment under theMinistry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA).

They come from over 100 countries and territories and work as mangers, managingdirectors, experts and technical workers, Trung said at a meeting oncommunication work on employment hosted by the ministry in the southern provinceof Binh Duong on May 10.

Ninety-five percent of eligible foreign workers in Vietnam have been grantedwork permits, he said, adding that they provide a significant contingent ofskilled, experienced and professional workers for Vietnam.

However, he noted that there is a lack of close, timely and comprehensive coordinationin managing foreign labourers among local authorised agencies while violationshave not been strictly handled.

The sense of law observance of some contractors, businesses and foreignerworkers in recruiting, employing labourers and following work permits remainslimited, even some foreigners enter Vietnam before applying for work permit, hesaid.

The increasing number of foreign workers in Vietnam requiresthe improvement of the legal system to ensure the rights of migrant workers,especially social security.

Social insurance authorities in the country have developed acompulsory social insurance scheme for foreign workers in the country, citingthe need to follow international practices as the country deepens its integration.

The 2014 Law on Social Insurance requires compulsoryenrollment of foreign workers in the social insurance scheme, starting in 2018,to ensure their equality and welfare. However, to date, it has not yetbeen realised due to a lack of guiding documents.

A MoLISA draft decree also proposed requiring foreign workersto take part in all five social insurance programmes – pension and insurancefor sickness, maternity, vocational injuries, disease, and death.-VNA