RoK seeks to boost guest workers for 2017 The government of the Republic of Korea (RoK) is seeking explosive growth in the number of Vietnamese guest workers, said Minister Dao Ngoc Dung of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) at a press conference on July 4 in Hanoi. Minister Dung said he has been told there are about 10,000 openings for 2017 in industry, agriculture and construction for jobs paying on average US$1,000-1,500 per month.  The job market in the RoK is highly competitive and there are expected to be some 54,000 applicants worldwide vying for the 10,000 spots, said Minister Dung, adding workers seeking to apply are required to pass an exam showing they have a grasp of the Korean language. Earlier in May, he said, the RoK government had agreed to receive 3,500 guest workers under its Employment Permit System for 2016 pursuant to a memorandum of understanding signed between the Labour ministries of the two countries. The initiative resumed following three years of limits on the number of workers, due to the high rate of illegal Vietnamese workers in the country. The Korean Ministry of Employment and Labour (MoEL) said it decided to resume this initiative because Korean businesses employing foreign workers asked their government to sign the new MoU. The companies reported Vietnamese workers adapt well to the new working environment and quickly acquire the necessary skills. Meanwhile, MoLISA had proposed a plan, said Minister Dung, to improve the management of its workers and to curb the number of workers overstaying their visas. Minister Dung said workers who are currently in the RoK illegally and who voluntarily return home between May 1 to September 30 this year will not have to pay administrative penalties. The move is aimed at encouraging and facilitating the return of Vietnamese workers. It will also reduce the rate of workers staying and working illegally in the RoK. Earlier this year, Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam met with RoK Minister of Employment and Labour Lee Ki-kweon, during the latter’s visit to Vietnam. The two leaders agreed to maintain close co-ordination in implementing measures to reduce the number of illegal guest workers in the RoK including the maintenance of information about workers whose work contracts had lapsed. At the meeting Deputy Prime Minister Dam agreed to create favourable conditions for Korean citizens and investors to live and do business in Vietnam. Meanwhile the Korean minister said Vietnamese workers adapt well to the working environment in the RoK. The signing of the MoU would open up more opportunities for Vietnamese who want to work in the RoK, and for those who are residing and working illegally to voluntarily return home. VOV