Vietnamese workers play a role in Japan’s economy (Photo: VOV)

Since Japan began receiving Vietnamese apprentices in 2006, more than 350,000 young Vietnamese have come to Japan for work under the Skill Apprenticeship Program. Since 2013, the number of Vietnamese doing an apprenticeship in Japan has grown sharply, from 10,000 in 2013 to more than 68,000 in 2022. Vietnam is the leading country among the 15 countries sending guest workers to Japan.

Ishii Chikahisa, First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, says Vietnamese workers play a very important role in Japan's socio-economic development.

More than 350,000 young Vietnamese have come to Japan for work under the Skill Apprenticeship Program. (Photo: VOV)

In recent years, the number of Vietnamese workers with specific skills, like engineers, has risen. As of last December, there were 110,000 Vietnamese workers with specific skills in Japan. Mr. Chikahisa said that since April Japan has recruited skilled Vietnamese workers to work in agriculture, nursing, elder care, child care, and auto maintenance.

Nguyen Viet Huong, Deputy Director of the Department of Overseas Labor of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, said: "Agencies in the two countries have worked closely to address problems arising in the program that sends Vietnamese apprentices and workers with specific skills to Japan. Vietnam has also fine-tuned the laws on Vietnamese workers working abroad under contract."

Since Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1973, bilateral ties have flourished. Cooperation in labor and human resources development has grown steadily and is expected to thrive with agreements between the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and Japanese agencies signed on vocational education, labor safety, and sending apprentices and workers to Japan for study and work.