Vietnam, Finland plan to lift job co-operation

Vietnam and Finland should conduct research and sign a co-operation agreement in the labour sector soon, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan yesterday while welcoming Finnish Labour Minister Anni Sinnemaki.

There should be a trial project in which Vietnam would select and train workers and send them to Finland to work in short-staffed sectors such as wood processing, forestry and nursing, Nhan said.

Nhan expressed his delight at the active development of the traditional relationship and multifaceted co-operation in politics, foreign affairs, economics, education, science and technology, and labour between Vietnam and Finland.

He thanked Finland for its efficient co-operation with Vietnam in human resources, saying that many Vietnamese workers had received assistance finding work in Finland.

He said he wished Finland would continue helping and joining hands with Vietnam in hunger alleviation and poverty reduction, vocational training, assisting farmers in remote areas, and taking care of children and invalids.

Sinnemaki expressed her impressions about Vietnam\'s recent socio-economic development.

She said that as an active developing country, Vietnam was facing challenges such as labour and energy. Finland was ready to share its development experience with Vietnam and wished to boost co-operative ties with the country in many fields, she said.

During their talks yesterday, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Minister Sinnemaki agreed to continue co-operation in labour and policies on labour ties under a memorandum of understanding signed by the Prime Ministers of the two countries last November in Vietnam.

They affirmed their commitment towards the common goal of increasing information and sustainable co-operation relating to employment between the two countries.

Sinnemaki said there was currently no need for foreign workers in Finland, but the demand would increase in the coming decade, particularly in the health care, engineering and construction sectors, because the country faced an ageing population.

That would be a big opportunity for Vietnamese workers, she said.

The Minister expressed her satisfaction with the initial success of a co-operation project which sent 17 Vietnamese workers to Finland between the South Ostrobothnia region and the Hanoi Industrial Vocational Training College.

Sinnemaki is on a working visit to Vietnam from September 5 to 8.