VietNamNet Bridge - Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs said that among more than 30,000 employees working in the Vung Ang Industrial Zone (Ha Tinh province), there are over 1,900 Chinese.

The construction site of Formosa Ha Tinh project.

At the Government's August meeting, the media questioned representatives of government agencies about several hot issues. The information that the Vung Ang Industrial Zone will hire 10,000 Chinese workers was rejected by Deputy Minister Dam.

Dam said, by 21/8, Vung Ang had nearly 34,000 workers, including 30,400 Vietnamese, more than 1,900 Chinese out of 3,500 foreign employees. The remaining foreign employees come from 28 countries. The Fomosa project has nearly 27,000 workers, with 23,700 Vietnamese and over 3,000 foreign workers.

"Some sources said that Formosa will use 10,000 Chinese workers. I would like to explain that it is the total number of foreign workers that 29 contractors wanted to hire. Ha Tinh province has just permitted them to recruit 2,000 people by late August. Contractors have asked permission to recruit 2,700 workers more but the proposal has not been approved," said Deputy Minister Dam.

The chairs of provinces are responsible for approving the recruitment plans of contractors. Provinces are seriously controlling the use of foreign workers, Dam said.

Previously, the local media reported that Ha Tinh authorities have allowed contractors of Taiwanese steel group Formosa to employ nearly 9,000 foreign workers, mainly Chinese from now to late September.

S. Tung