Reduce the burden before departure.

Working abroad under contract opens up job opportunities and increases income for many workers. However, for those from poor or near-poor households, or living in disadvantaged areas, this journey is not easy because before departure, workers must prepare everything from their profession and language skills to many necessary procedures.

Vocational training, language learning, orientation, health check-ups, passport and visa applications, criminal record checks, etc., all incur costs. During the training period, workers also have to cover food, accommodation, and living expenses. For families with limited financial resources , these expenses can become a barrier.

Therefore, supporting workers to go abroad for employment under contract is one of the contents related to job creation and sustainable poverty reduction. The policy targets workers living in poor districts, particularly disadvantaged communes in coastal and island areas; with priority given to those belonging to poor households, near-poor households, and newly-escaped-from-poverty households as defined by regulations.

The support includes vocational training and language skills development; food, living expenses, and accommodation during the training period, including orientation; provision of essential personal items; and support for medical examinations, passports, visas, and criminal record checks as required. Workers and their families also receive information and advice on necessary matters before choosing employment abroad.

Workers go through procedures and seek information about jobs and opportunities to work abroad at the Ninh Binh Provincial Employment Service Center. Photo: Dao Hang

For those in difficult circumstances, support during the preparation phase is particularly important because this is the time when they have many expenses to cover while they do not yet have income from their new job.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Dung, from Tan Minh commune, is from a near-poor household and is completing the procedures to go to Japan for work. Before deciding to register, Mr. Dung's biggest concern was the initial preparation cost.

“My family is still struggling financially, so when I considered working abroad, my biggest worry was the initial costs. After receiving advice on jobs, the market, and support policies, I understood better what I needed to prepare and felt more confident in studying and completing the necessary procedures. I hope to find stable employment with a better income to cover living expenses, support my family, and accumulate capital upon my return,” Dũng shared.

Opening up avenues to increase income.

Working abroad under contract is a notable employment channel in Ninh Binh province. According to a report by the Department of Internal Affairs at a meeting with the Ninh Binh Provincial National Assembly Delegation to survey the implementation of policies and laws regarding Vietnamese workers going abroad under contract, from 2022 to the end of June 2026, a total of 40,060 workers from the province went to work abroad under contract.

Workers primarily find employment in Japan, South Korea , Taiwan (China), and other markets. The occupations are diverse, ranging from manufacturing, mechanics, electronics, and construction to agriculture, nursing, and services. This not only solves the employment problem but also creates opportunities to increase income, accumulate skills, and gain experience.

However, for overseas employment opportunities to truly provide a sustainable livelihood, financial support needs to be accompanied by comprehensive and accurate counseling. Workers need to be provided with clear information about the company, the receiving market, the industry, income, costs, contract duration, working conditions, as well as their rights and obligations.

This is especially important for workers from poor and near-poor households, and those living in disadvantaged areas. Counseling from relevant agencies and organizations helps workers and their families choose suitable jobs while mitigating risks from unofficial sources of information.

In Ninh Binh, the Employment Service Center provides job counseling, job placement, labor supply, and coordinates with relevant units in sending workers abroad. Through job fairs and counseling and networking activities, information about overseas job opportunities is disseminated to workers.

For those in difficult circumstances, pre-departure support can alleviate some of the financial barriers. However, for a successful and sustainable overseas work experience, workers need to choose the right job, acquire the necessary skills, and fully understand their contract before departure.

When support policies reach the right people and are accompanied by adequate advice, working abroad under contract has more opportunities to create jobs, increase income, accumulate skills and resources, enabling workers to build stable livelihoods after returning home.

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