The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs is devising a scheme on export of high-skilled workers given the abundant domestic labor force, and thus seeking input from major corporations.

At a working session between Minister Dao Ngoc Dung and Simon Matthews, country manager of Manpower Group in Vietnam, Thailand, and Middle East on Tuesday, the two sides discussed cooperation in 2015-2018.

The minister asked the group for advice on amendments to the 2012 Labor Code in regard to retirement age, overtime, minimum wage, and welfare benefits for female workers; as well as innovations in vocational education.

He also sought advice on a scheme which sends well-trained laborers abroad. “The experience and knowledge which high-skilled workers gain during the working period overseas will be useful for Vietnam,” he said.

Simon Matthews said the most important thing for investors is the availability of high-skilled laborers in their chosen country. Besides, the legal framework will protect workers’ rights and stimulate the growth of enterprises.

Therefore, the group committed to share its experience to streamline the legal framework for the Labor Code, and offering advice on labor training to meet market requirements.

He added the governments of India and the Philippines have been very successful in bringing their citizens abroad for guest work. In addition to hard skills, they have trained their workers to be proficient in foreign languages, especially English.

He told the Daily that Manpower has actually taken Thai and Philippine laborers abroad for guest work successfully, but the group has had a difficult time doing this for Vietnamese.

The reason is that the group is a 100% foreign-owned company. Meanwhile, the prerequisite for receiving the certificate for export of skilled workers to work overseas on a long-term basis merely applies to Vietnamese enterprises.

He said the regulation should be relaxed.

SGT