The Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs has just asked labour export companies to check on the number of Vietnamese workers in the Middle East and prepare for the evacuation in case of escalating tension between the US and Iran.
Vietnamese workers in Saudi Arabia
Deputy Director General of the ministry's Department of Overseas Labour, Nguyen Gia Liem, confirmed that they have asked the companies to have a contact list of workers and employers in the area for support if needed.
"We've also asked the Labour Management Board in the UAE and Saudi Arabia which have a large number of Vietnamese workers, to tightly follow the situation and prepare suitable plans, including repatriate all Vietnamese people in the area if the tension between the US and Iran escalates," Liem said.
According to the Department of Overseas Labour, there are some 27,000 Vietnamese workers in the Middle East, mostly in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Vietnamese workers are mainly working in construction, mechanic, and domestic service.
The number of Vietnamese workers in the Middle East has recently decreased. This area is no longer a top choice for workers due to hard working conditions, low payment and unstable security. In 2019, there were over 1,100 people sent to work in the Middle East.