The app's launch ceremony was held on Wednesday morning in Hà Nội.— Photo courtesy of JICA Việt Nam Office

HÀ NỘI — A new mobile application was officially launched on Wednesday morning in Hà Nội, offering Vietnamese citizens seeking employment abroad direct access to verified job listings without the need to go through informal brokers.

The DOLAB-JICA app (DJ App) was jointly introduced by the Department of Overseas Labour Management (DOLAB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

It is part of the 'Project to Support Labour Market Information Connectivity for Vietnamese Workers Seeking Employment Abroad under Contract,' which has been jointly implemented by the department and JICA since August 2023.

Vũ Trường Giang, deputy director of the department, said the app is designed to eliminate the need for intermediaries, significantly reducing the financial burden on workers.

It provides direct access to reliable, clearly defined job vacancies that have been verified by the department.

"This represents a major digital transformation in how we recruit and deploy Vietnamese workers for overseas employment," Giang stated.

The app will be upgraded with two key features in the near future.

First, while working in Japan, users will be able to provide feedback via the app regarding service providers, supervising agencies, and employers.

The reports will be sent directly to relevant Vietnamese authorities, such as the department and the Vietnamese Labour Management Board in Japan.

Second, after returning home, the app will continue to support repatriated workers by offering access to domestic job opportunities, enabling them to apply their overseas experience and skills in suitable positions in Việt Nam.

“Beyond its benefits for workers, the DOLAB-JICA app also offers significant advantages for service enterprises,” Giang said.

It helps them reach a wider pool of motivated candidates who meet the requirements of foreign contracts, thus reducing recruitment costs and enhancing business stability. In addition, it enables Vietnamese businesses to connect directly with returning workers, a valuable, highly skilled labour force trained overseas.

With these far-reaching objectives, both DOLAB and JICA hope the app will become widely accessible to prospective migrant workers and service enterprises alike, contributing to a more efficient, transparent and sustainable labour export system, he said.

Chief Representative of the JICA Việt Nam Office Kobayashi Yosuke commended the project team’s efforts, but noted that the app launch is only the beginning.

“Launching the app is just the first step. How widely it is used by dispatching organisations in Việt Nam and those who want to work in Japan will be the next challenge. The real race begins here.”

Through this app, the agency hopes to encourage more companies to join the effort in protecting workers’ rights, he added.

Also at the event, Country Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Việt Nam Ingrid Christensen said she welcomes the initiative.

“From the ILO’s perspective, we see this as a very good step towards improving labour migration governance, supporting all involved and promoting the fair and ethical recruitment through the provision of information.”

“The app is easy to access, for me,” she added.

She said she trusts that the app truly makes information readily available to workers, including verified job opportunities, clear requirements and even transparency on costs.

This could ultimately help lower recruitment expenses, which remain a critical issue.

It also helps Japanese employers connect with a broader range of candidates whose skills align with available positions.

Nguyễn Ngọc Quỳnh, a representative of the Việt Nam Association of Manpower Supply, said the app provides public access to information, transparent costs and equitable recruitment, in line with the Vietnamese Government’s policies.

Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Việt Nam Ishikawa Isamu praised the collaborative efforts between the department and JICA.

He said that the Vietnamese community in Japan has currently surpassed 630,000 people. Young Vietnamese people working in Japan not only contribute to the Japanese economy, but also serve as an important bridge to promote mutual understanding between the two peoples.

"Therefore, we cannot accept it if young Vietnamese workers are unfairly exploited when they go to Japan to work," he said.

The project announced today is an important step forward to address a major challenge that both Japan and Việt Nam are facing: eliminating illegal brokers in the process of sending Vietnamese workers to Japan.— VNS