Foreign workers who don’t meet conditions to work in Vietnam will not have their visas extended, Labor, War Invalids and Social Affaris (MoLISA) Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan told VietNamNet on May 28.

Chinese workers in the Central Highlands.

The Prime Minister has directed MoLISA to make a comprehensive survey of the use and management of foreign workers in provinces where there are high numbers of foreign laborers, and report the results to the government prior to May 31.

Ngan told VietNamNet that MoLISA inspectors have been sent to some key provinces, but other localities will have to check the situation themselves.

Vietnamese rules stipulate that employers are responsible to report their use of foreign manpower but some don’t perform their duty.

“Vietnam doesn’t have any demand for foreign manual workers because it gives priority to our local workforce,” Ngan said. “Vietnam allows the use of foreign technicians and experts in the fields where it lacks sufficient skilled manpower. However, employers have to register and ask for work permits for foreign employees.”

If foreign manual laborers enter Vietnam by tourist visa and then try to work, the labor minister said, MoLISA will assess their skills.

“If they are really necessary for projects in Vietnam, MoLISA will instruct them to get work permits under the law, otherwise, we will recommend that the immigration agency not extend their visa,” Ngan said.

She said that this is the best solution, but it depends on good cooperation among MoLISA, immigration agency, local authorities and employers.

XL