Labour cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia is seen as a prospective field. Even in the time of economic crisis, Malaysia is still one of the five largest importers of Vietnamese unskilled labourers together with South Korea, Taiwan, the Middle East, and Japan. Vietnamese workers are highly appreciated by the Malaysian Government and people.
According to a report from the Department of Overseas Labour (DOLAB) under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), Vietnam now has 138 companies licensed to export manpower to Malaysia. More than 190,000 workers have been sent to 12 out of 13 Malaysian states since 2002. A majority of Vietnamese workers are working in such industries as manufacturing, construction, agriculture, service and housework with quite stable incomes. In recent years, despite economic crisis, labour cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia has been thriving. Since late 2010, economic recovery enabled Malaysian factories to receive more Vietnamese workers who are paid higher and offered better working conditions. The Malaysian Government recognises the value of Vietnamese human resources, always considering Vietnam a potential labour supplier, and pledges to create favourable conditions for migrant workers by simplifying paperwork, diversifying the working environment, ensuring working security and safety, and helping them adapt quickly to Malaysian practices.
Currently, the demand for migrant workers is very high in Malaysia. Salaries in Malaysia are not as high as in Japan or South Korea and only marginally higher than in Vietnam, but the number of workers registering to work in Malaysia has constantly increased. The Malaysian Government does not prescribe minimum wage or basic wage and pay is negotiated by employers and employees and recorded in mutually signed employment contracts.
Mr Nguyen Hong Thao, Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia, said: At present, 66,000 Vietnamese workers work in Malaysia. According to the 6P Programme - an amnesty programme - which legalises illegal migrant workers - issued by the Government of Malaysia on August 1, 2011, illegal workers are still allowed to register and register their fingerprints in a bid to manage more closely. The deployment of the 6P Programme makes Malaysia a more competitive labour market than other countries. The Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia will cooperate with Malaysia to facilitate workers to continue working there or return home in an orderly manner.
Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thao said it is clear that the number of Vietnamese workers in Malaysia can be boosted. Vietnam needs to further strengthen recruitment and training of workers, including law knowledge training; supply necessary information about living environment, traditions and customs in Malaysia; and foster advanced language skills for workers. According to the ambassador, Malaysia is home to many large electronics factories that supply to the world, but Vietnamese people are rarely allowed to enter because most of them are manual workers. Thus, Vietnamese companies should supply well-trained workers to increase the presence in Malaysia. The Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia also established a website to support expatriates and labourers. All information about foreign affairs and 6P Programme is updated on the website.
Counsellor, Head of Vietnam Labour Management Department in Malaysia, Nguyen Tien San said there is an urgent need to set up a complete information system among Vietnamese manpower exporters, labourers, Malaysian brokers, employers, labour authorities, and local authorities to exchange information. There is also a need to cooperation and support Vietnamese labour exporters to avoid unfair competition.
Thanh Tan
Vietnamese
