Can Tho, Vietnam, 30 May 2023 - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Viet Nam and the Provincial Women Union today hosted a policy dialogue in Can Tho to raise awareness of the local community on the latest updates on Law 69 and safe labour migration. This is the last of the five Policy Dialogues organized in coordination with the Department of Overseas Labour (DOLAB) on the topic.

To further mainstream dialogues on safe migration in local communities, the outreach in Can Tho this time targeted vocational college students who will soon join the labour market and potentially seek employment overseas. The event was participated by 250 students and women members, and joined by representatives from IOM, Can Tho Department of Labours, Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA) and leaders of Can Tho Women Unions. It provided a platform for participants to gain an in-depth understanding of the law's provisions, updates, and implications; and helped bridging the gap between policymakers and community members through the provision of accurate information. 

"IOM firmly believes that community engagement is crucial in ensuring the effective implementation of policies and programs related to migration," said Park Mihyung Park, IOM Viet Nam Chief of Mission.   

"Law 69/2020/QH14 on Contract-Based Vietnamese Overseas Workers (or Law 69), effective from 1st January 2022, plays a pivotal role in better ensuring the protection of Vietnamese migrant workers and their rights, promising practices for fair recruitment. Such open and interactive dialogue like the one we have today in Can Tho will help college students and other aspirant migrant workers to gain essential knowledge on some of the key changes in the law. We hope aspirant migrants also learn more about safe migration, understand about the opportunities and risks of labour migration to make informed decisions and protect themselves when working overseas," Ms. Park Mihyung emphasized.

Safe labour migration was another essential aspect covered during the event. With Viet Nam witnessing a significant increase in labour migration in recent years, it is crucial to raise awareness of individuals about the risks associated with irregular migration and the importance of safe migration practices. Through interactive sessions and informative presentations, participants learned how to migrate safely and regularly, understand the legal requirements, and where to access reliable information for recruitment and employment overseas.

“Working overseas using irregular migration channels makes migrant workers unable to access support services, exposed to risks of labour exploitation, human trafficking, even loss of life, especially for women. Therefore, continuing to provide complete and accurate information on regular and irregular forms of labour migration as well as raising awareness about the law on Contract-based Vietnamese Overseas Workers for publics and women are essential, which are contributing to safe migration, reducing the risks related to human trafficking, and preventing exploitation and abuse,” Ms. Vo Kim Thoa, Chairwoman of the Can Tho Women's Union said.

The event concluded with a call for increased cooperation among all stakeholders to protect the rights of migrants and promote safe labour migration practices. Participants expressed their commitment to raising awareness within their respective communities and working together to create a more secure and supportive environment for Vietnamese migrant workers.

IOM remains dedicated to supporting the Government of Viet Nam in implementing Law 69 effectively, as well as enhancing knowledge and understanding of safe labour migration practices. Through initiatives like the Community Policy Dialogue in Can Tho, IOM strives to build strong partnerships and empower communities to ensure the well-being and protection of migrant workers in Vietnam.

Can Tho is the last stop of the five community dialogues organized in provinces with high number of Vietnamese international migrant workers and aspirant migrant workers. Other events were held in the central provinces of Ha Tinh, Nghe An and Quang Binh in late 2022.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ms Nguyen Ngoc Tram, National Communications Officer - ngocnguyen@iom.int

Ms Nguyen Thi Hong Yen, Communications Coordinator -  thihnguyen@iom.int

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Background information:

Revision of the Law on Vietnamese Contract-Based Overseas Workers (Law 69/2020/QH14)

On 8 December 2020, the Vietnamese President’s Office announced the Law on Contract-Based Vietnamese Overseas Workers 69/2020/QH14 (Law 69), which was adopted by the 14th National Assembly of Viet Nam on 13 November 2020 and came into force in January 2022. 

Compared to the 2006 version, the updated Law 69/2020/QH14 contains some new provisions, including:

• The ability for migrant workers to unilaterally liquidate contracts in situations of threats, sexual harassment, maltreatment or forced labour.
• The removal of the obligation for migrant workers to pay brokerage commissions and an explicit prohibition on recruitment agencies passing these costs on to workers.
• Prohibition on deceitful advertising for the purpose of organizing trafficking in persons, abusing recruitment activities to illegally collect fees, and charging brokerage fees

For more details of Law 69/2020/QH14, click here.