VGP – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told Japanese reporters that he welcomes Japan’s new visa program for foreign workers, saying it is a promising area for more cooperation.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc

The program pays the ways for Japan to increase manpower import from foreign countries, including Viet Nam.

Phuc said the Government of Viet Nam stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Japan in this area for the benefits of the two countries.

He called on Japanese side to step up information exchange and supervision of organizations responsible for sending and receiving laborers to ensure their legitimate rights and interests in Japan and crack down on possible abuses by workers.

The two countries aim to sign an accord soon on accepting Vietnamese workers through the program, which launched in April, opening the door to workers in 14 industries faced with acute labor shortages.

Viet Nam, already a major source of foreign labor for Japan, has the potential to lead the list under the new program, providing much-needed help in such areas as nursing care and food service.

According to PM Phuc, more than 300,000 Vietnamese people are already in Japan, the 3rd biggest foreign community in the Northeast Asian country.

They are a valuable source of human capital for Viet Nam, while at the same time also serving as an important “bridge” for Viet Nam-Japan relations./.