Many Vietnamese firms are going through rounds of layoffs as the global economic downturn shows no sign of abating since starting last year.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour report stated that 546,835 workers from 1,300 firms in 50 provinces and cities across the country had their working hours reduced.

According to statistics of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, up to 12.8 million Vietnamese people aged 15 and older were negatively affected by the Covid-19 epidemic in the second quarter of 2021.

Vietnam’s labor market in the first half of 2021 was heavily affected by the 3rd and 4th outbreaks of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Vietnam General Statistics Office’s report released on July 6.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) is striving to bring 90,000 Vietnamese labourers to work abroad in 2021.

Average income of Vietnamese workers surged by 35% in 2016-2020 period, according to the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL).

As of September, 31.8 million above-15-year-old labourers in Vietnam were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with either job losses, reduced working hours and income or rotational leave.

More than 1,400 Vietnamese guest workers in South Korea are set to lose their deposit of VND100 million (US$4,239) each due to fleeing from their workplace or attempting to illegally stay in the country.

Vietnamese porters at markets across Hanoi capital are struggling to earn a living due to the economic impact of the second wave of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Migrant workers in HCM City are seeking part-time work to compensate for reduced hours after the second COVID-19 outbreak.

Vietnam may break a 10-year trend by not increasing regional minimum wages for private businesses in 2021 to help ease the financial burden on those ailing from the pandemic.

Foreign markets such as Japan, Germany, and Taiwan (China) have moved to welcome Vietnamese workers yet again, according to the foreign labour management department at the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Only 28 per cent of industrial zone workers are provided with stable accommodation, while the rest have to rent houses with poor sanitation and infrastructure.

More than 132,800 Vietnamese workers went working overseas during the 11 months of 2019, surpassing the year's target of 120,000, according to figures from the Vietnam Association of Manpower Supply (VAMAS).

The need for laborers is expected to become more serious when the EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA) takes effect.

Japan has overtaken Taiwan as the most popular destination for Vietnamese guest workers, according to the Department of Overseas Labor, under the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Two separate groups of public security and foreign affairs officials departed for the United Kingdom at the weekend, following news that all victims in the Essex lorry tragedy were believed to be Vietnamese.

The Overseas Labor Management Department, under the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, has warned of risks for local laborers who illegally go abroad for work, especially in Japan, South Korea and Singapore.

With a host of high-income nations opening their doors to Vietnamese guest workers in recent times, this marks a golden opportunity for local labourers to secure a quality job and enjoy attractive incomes.