Labour export

NA discusses law on labour export

Last Updated: Saturday, January 02, 2010 15:01:00 (GMT+07)

HA NOI — National Assembly deputies debated draft laws relating to export labour, gender equality, and the revised Labour Code, in Ha Noi yesterday.
The draft law was debated on feedback and suggestions collected from the NA deputies themselves, relevant ministries, businesses and experts in the field.
At the session, deputies focused on four major issues including the name of the proposed law; the allowable number of overseas companies who engage in exporting workers; allowable service fees and commissions charged ; and the differences between two types of enterprises that deal with labour export.
Most deputies were of the opinion that the law should be named "Law on Guest Workers on Contract" as proposed by the NA Standing Committee’s report.
However, deputy Do Trong Ngoan from Bac Giang Province said that in the context of increased economic integration, labour export had become a complex issue with many different shades to consider.
"At present, there is a new type of labour export in which Vietnamese who are living and working in Viet Nam but are working for foreign companies," he said.
Ngoan was of the opinion that the law should be expanded to include all foreign-owned businesses whether their operations were located overseas or inside the country. He suggested naming the law "Law on Vietnamese citizens working for foreign institutions".
Speaking on a proposed limit for the number of branch offices a labour exporter may establish abroad, deputy Ngoan opined that limiting the number of offices was not necessary and that market conditions should determine the number.
Agreeing with Ngoan, deputy Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa of Nghe An Province said that the law’s regulation that businesses are not permitted to establish more than 3 offices overseas was inappropriate, and was in direct conflict of self-determination of enterprises.
Of far greater importance was that a legal framework and specific sanctions should be implemented to control and deal with violations in labour export activities, she added.
Referring to the issue of service fees and commissions for application procedures in labour export, many deputies were of the opinion that the issues discussed were appropriate.
However, many deputies raised their concerns that the regulations on the issues were still far too vague, and further work needed to be done on the matter.
Vinh Long Province’s deputy Tran Van Kiet said the draft law should regulate an exact flat fee for brokerage services. He suggested that the fee charged should be based on a percentage of the employees’ income.

Deputy Do Phuong Thao of Hai Phong City said that in comparison to other countries in the region labourers were saddled with much higher fees and commissions. In the case of Vietnamese workers finding employment in Taiwan, charges of up to VND60 million were levied against them when a figure of around VND28 million would be more realistic, she added.

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