Labour exports pick up speed

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Between October 20 and November 14, the OLMD licensed about 2,000 to work in Taiwan and that figure is expected to rise to 10,000 by early February.

Ninety per cent of labourers went to work in factories, and a small number went as nurses for rest-homes and other medical facilities.

According to the Vietnamese Labour Management Board in Taiwan, one key factor attracting workers to the country was the increase of the basic salary for guest workers to VND13.3 million ($630) per month.

They added that expenses paid by workers for procedures prior to leaving were only around $3,000. Taiwan is increasing its overseas labour recruitments to offset its manpower shortfall.

Top labour exporters are Hutraserco Limited, Cienco 8, Oleco, Halasuco, and Hycolasec.

Deputy general director of Hyoclasec Pham Ngoc Minh said the average income of guest workers in Taiwan range from VND17.5-21 million ($830-$1,000) per month, with workers able to save between $570-$715 per month.

After a period of stagnancy, firms have also started exporting to the Middle East and Africa, particularly Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

The pay for exported workers at construction sites in Bahrain ranges from VND8-25 million ($380-$1,200) per month, depending on profession.

In Saudi Arabia, guest workers in construction are paid from VND7-27 million ($330-$1,285) per month, based on skills and work requirements.

Qatar has attracted nearly 2,000 Vietnamese guest works this year, mostly in construction, with pay ranging from VND 7-11 million ($330-520) per month.

For the African markets, the OLMD just licensed Hoang Long Limited to recruit 110 truck drivers and construction workers to go to Angola. Employer Avir Company plans to pay them more than $800 per month. Avir will also pay for their air tickets.

After several years of delays, Libya has just opened up with a test programme that sent 200 manual labourers with pay ranging from $300-$1,000 a month.