The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted on progress of domestic projects in Viet Nam due to lack of foreign manpower, according to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MOLISA).

Illustration photo

The MOLISA reported that as of late March, Viet Nam housed 101,550 foreign workers. 

Nearly 12% of them are managers. Up to 8% of them are CEOs. About 58% are experts. The number of foreign workers who get new work permits or work permit renewals accounted for over 93%. 

They came from 110 foreign countries and territories chiefly China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei. 

The foreign workers mainly reside in big cities or other localities with large-scale projects including Ha Noi (over 4,400 foreign workers), Bac Giang (4,600), Long An (5,600), HCMC (27,000). 

Due to the pandemic, Viet Nam is suffering from the lack of foreign managers and experts in key projects, according to the MOLISA.

The prolonged pandemic was forecast to heavily affect important and urgent projects in Viet Nam.  

The MOLISA forecast that foreign workers would come back Viet Nam especially high-tech laborers and experienced experts. 

Viet Nam was among the top ten countries for expats thanks to strong financial security and positive work-life balance, in addition to its welcoming environment for newcomers. The majority of expats surveyed said they were able to quickly adjust to the local lifestyle, stating that they felt at home within the first few months after arriving, according to Travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler in 2020. 

Earlier, the Government on January 8 issued Decree No 152/2020/ND-CP which includes regulations on foreigners working in Viet Nam and the recruitment and management of Vietnamese working for foreign organizations and individuals in the country, which came into force on February 15, 2021.

Especially, experts, managers, or technicians that enter Viet Nam for up to 30 days no more than three times in a year may be exempted from a work permit. Foreign workers married to Vietnamese citizens and living in Viet Nam are also exempted from work permits./.