HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam sent more than 134,700 workers abroad last year, according to data from the Department of Overseas Labour (DOLAB) under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. This included 53,340 female workers, or 39.6 per cent.

The figure exceeds the annual plan set for 2017 by 28.3 per cent, and accounts for 106.7 per cent of the 2016 figure.

Last year was the fourth consecutive year that the number of workers sent oversdeas exceeded the 100,000 benchmark.

The statistics show that last year, the Japanese market witnessed a remarkable growth, receiving 54,504 Vietnamese labourers, including 24,502 female workers. The total number of Vietnamese trainees practising in Japan has reached 100,000, the highest among 15 countries sending trainees to Japan.

Taiwan continues to be the largest market for Vietnamese overseas labour with 66,926 employees, including 23,530 females. Last year was the second consecutive year that the number of Vietnamese workers reached more than 60,000 in Taiwan. This accounted for nearly 50 per cent of the total number sent abroad last year.

Several other labour markets that received a large number of Vietnamese workers in 2017 included South Korea (5,178 workers), Saudi Arabia (3,626), Malaysia (1,551), Algeria (760) and Romania (683).

The increases were attributed to the ministry’s efforts, such as organising a dialogue with 280 labour-export businesses to help tackle their difficulties, working to improve their operation efficiency and quality, and improving the quality of Vietnamese workers sent abroad. — VNS