Vietnam - Korea discuss solutions to increase labor intake quota

(Chinhphu.vn) - Vietnamese Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra and Korean Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young Hoon had in-depth discussions on plans to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on the Employment Permit System for Foreign Workers (EPS), including considering increasing the quota for passing the Korean language test and increasing the quota for receiving Vietnamese workers.

Vietnamese Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra held talks with Korean Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young Hoon - Photo: Huy Hong

On the morning of August 12, in Seoul (South Korea), within the framework of the State visit to South Korea by General Secretary To Lam , Vietnamese Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra held talks with Korean Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young Hoon.

Attending the meeting were members of the Vietnamese Ministry of Home Affairs Delegation and representatives of leaders of units and representatives of the EPS Program of the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor.

Commitment to effectively implement the EPS Memorandum of Understanding

At the meeting, the two Ministers expressed their delight at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on sending and receiving workers to work in Korea under the EPS Program for the next phase.

The two sides agreed to continue to propose solutions and directions for effective and substantive implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding, contributing to promoting the Vietnam - Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, enhancing cultural exchange and cooperation, in which the field of labor and employment plays an important role in ensuring economic and social security for both countries.

Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra highly appreciated the EPS Program which has been implemented since 2004 (periodically signed every two years). To date, Vietnam has sent about 143,000 workers to work in Korea under this program and currently there are 42,500 people working in Korea, concentrated in the manufacturing, agriculture, fishery, construction, shipbuilding, and forestry sectors.

The recent period has shown successful cooperation results between the two sides with the rate of Vietnamese workers ranking first in Korea (out of 17 countries sending workers to Korea), while the rate of illegal workers decreased to 19% (achieved more than the set target).

Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra also informed about major changes in the administrative apparatus of the Vietnamese Government from March 1, 2025, when the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs merges into the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Currently, the Ministry of Home Affairs performs state management in many fields: Administrative organization, state career; local government; cadres, civil servants, public employees and public service; labor, salary, social insurance; employment; occupational safety and hygiene; associations, social funds, charity funds, non-governmental organizations; meritorious people; youth; gender equality; state documents and archives; emulation and rewards. The Ministry also performs state management of public services in the sectors and fields under the Ministry's management.

Overview of the meeting.

Minister Kim Young Hoon shared and agreed with the contents raised by the Vietnamese side, agreeing to cooperate in building a safe and healthy working environment, respecting the values of workers as well as cooperating on the issue of repatriating workers, helping them participate in the labor market in Vietnam.

The two sides also discussed in depth the plans to implement the Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on considering increasing the admission quota in Korean language exams and increasing the quota for receiving Vietnamese workers in the coming years, based on the actual socio-economic situation of Korea; increasing the number of Korean language test rooms on computers or simultaneously implementing the form of testing on tablets (UBT) and testing on computers (CBT); expanding occupations in the original industry such as casting, plastic injection, machinery assembly, industrial painting to increase the reception of trained workers.

Strengthen coordination and information sharing between the two countries' authorities to improve management efficiency, support, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese workers; strengthen labor safety inspections at Korean enterprises and have policies to provide consultation and support in Vietnamese for workers.

Thu Giang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/viet-nam-han-quoc-ban-giai-phap-tang-chi-tieu-tiep-nhan-lao-dong-102250812182409035.htm