650,000 Residents Staying in 40 Countries Worldwide
Vietnamese workers in South Korea were found to earn the highest income.
On the 4th (local time), Vietnamese media 'VN Express' cited the 'Overview of Vietnamese Migration 2023' report recently published by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reporting that a survey on the income levels of Vietnamese workers working in various countries around the world from 2017 to 2023 showed that Vietnamese working in South Korea earned the most money.
Last year, the average income of Vietnamese workers in South Korea was $1,600 to $2,000 per month (approximately 2.2 million to 2.75 million KRW). The second place was Japan, with $1,200 to $1,500 per month (approximately 1.65 million to 2.06 million KRW). South Korea paid about 33% more wages to Vietnamese workers than Japan. Following that were 'Taiwan and some European countries' ($800 to $1,200 per month; approximately 1.09 million to 1.64 million KRW), and 'Malaysia and Middle Eastern countries' ($400 to $1,000 per month; approximately 540,000 to 1.37 million KRW).
According to data from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the current number of Vietnamese workers abroad reaches 650,000. They work in about 40 countries worldwide and remit $3.5 billion to $4 billion annually (approximately 4.8 trillion to 5.496 trillion KRW) to their home country. By country, Japan had the largest number of Vietnamese workers for five consecutive years until last year. South Korea ranked second, followed by Taiwan. Additionally, the number of Vietnamese workers increased in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and Hungary.
Among them, 80% are engaged in labor-intensive industries such as textile and footwear manufacturing, construction, agriculture and fisheries, domestic work, and elderly and patient care. However, the number of Vietnamese workers in high-skilled professions is also increasing. In particular, skilled workers such as corporate managers and engineers are going abroad for better income and career opportunities.
The report also pointed out that "Vietnamese unskilled workers are known to work hard and adapt well locally," but "there are many illegal workers who overstay beyond their contract period, which hinders opportunities for other Vietnamese seeking to work abroad." It added that Vietnamese workers abroad sometimes face poor conditions such as unfair treatment, overwork, and hazardous work environments.
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