Poland is potential employment market for Vietnamese workers: deputy minister

Updated: 15:16, 17/10/2024

Poland is now a promising overseas employment market for workers from many Asian countries, including Vietnam, said Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan.

Hoan made the remark at a working session with Justyna Pabian, Chargé d'Affaires of Poland to Vietnam, in Hanoi on September 24. The two discussed measures to promote labour cooperation between the two countries and continue perfecting a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in labour and social affairs.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan (R) receives Justyna Pabian, Chargé d'Affaires of Poland to Vietnam, in Hanoi on September 24, 2024.

According to the Deputy Minister, since 2018, Vietnamese companies have sent about 1,400 workers to Poland. Notably, in 2022, 551 Vietnamese workers were sent to Poland, accounting for 40% of the total working in this market since 2018. Vietnamese workers to Poland engage in various fields, including the industrial sector, agriculture, and food production, primarily in roles such as welders, construction workers, painters, food processing workers, industrial cleaners, and bakers.

“Vietnamese workers adapt quickly to living and working conditions in Poland. Most Vietnamese workers in Poland have stable jobs and income. There are currently 24 companies sending Vietnamese workers to Poland. Although Poland may not offer salaries as attractive as some other European countries, it is a promising overseas employment market for workers from many Asian countries,” Hoan said.

To enhance cooperation between the two countries in the fields of labour and social affairs, since 2022, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Policy of Poland have been discussing the drafting of a MoU on cooperation in labour and social affairs, he said. Hoan emphasised the importance of increasing meetings at various levels between the two countries to advocate for policies, gain more insights into this potential market, and finalise the MoU in preparation for the signing during the upcoming visit of high-ranking Vietnamese leaders to Poland.

The MoLISA leader suggested that Justyna Pabian and her ministry sign the MoU in time to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Poland (1950-2025).

Regarding the issuance of visas for Vietnamese workers, the Deputy Minister asked Justyna Pabian and her colleagues at the Vietnamese Embassy in Poland to facilitate the registration, interviews, and visa granting for Vietnamese workers going to work in Poland in the near future.

For her part, Justyna Pabian affirmed that the relationship between the two countries has continued to develop positively in many fields, towards the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1950-2025). She expressed her belief that the two countries would have many meaningful activities to mark this occasion, including cooperation in labour.

Acknowledging the positive contributions of the Vietnamese community in Poland, she stated that the Vietnamese community is hardworking, resilient, united, and has always been a strong bridge for the relationship between the two countries. In fact, many Polish companies have demand for hiring Vietnamese workers, as they are highly valued for their diligence and compliance with the law.

Regarding visa issuance, she said Poland's visa procedures are similar to those of all EU member states. As an EU member, Poland is also subject to the common principles of the bloc. She also warned about the prevalence of visa brokers that deceive workers.

She said her department would put forth proposals regarding mechanisms for labour cooperation, contributing to further strengthening the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries.