HÀ NỘI — The number of Vietnamese working overseas totalled 140,000 this year, increasing nearly 7 per cent over last year, according to the Overseas Worker Management Department.

This was the fifth consecutive year the number of guest workers has increased and exceeded 100,000.

According to a report by the Labour Export Association, currently, there are 28 markets hosting Vietnamese workers, of which six employ over 1,000 workers, including Japan, South Korea, China’s Taiwan, Malaysia, Romania and Saudi Arabia

The number of workers in Japan and Taiwan accounts for 90 per cent of the total.

Notably, this year, Japan surpassed China’s Taiwan to become the market hosting the most Vietnamese workers with more than 67,000 employees, followed by Taiwan and South Korea with about 65,000 and 6,000 workers, respectively.

Recently, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs reported that tens of thousands of poor and ethnic minority people are currently working overseas.

Searching for stable incomes overseas was a last resort for many poor families, the ministry said.

Most worked in fields of machinery, construction, agriculture, fishery and domestic service.

Workers in the UAE could earn VNĐ7-10 million (US$300-430) per month and VNĐ6 million to VNĐ8 million ($260-340) per month in Malaysia.

Incomes of guest workers in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan were higher, ranging from VNĐ15 million to 20 million ($645 to 860).

Normally, each worker could save at least VNĐ100 million ($4,300) after three years working overseas, said the ministry.

Thus, about 70 per cent of families who had members working overseas managed to escape poverty.

Trần Thị Vân Hà, an official from the Overseas Worker Management Department said: “Previously, most workers travelled to Malaysia and the Middle East.”

“In recent years, Japan and South Korea have received a growing number of Vietnamese poor and ethnic workers,” said Hà.

With State financial assistance, poor and ethnic minority workers do not have to pay for administrative and training fees.

“The poor workers have many opportunities to work in countries like Japan and South Korea, and gain higher and stable incomes thanks to support from the Vietnamese Government,” Hà said. — VNS