Vietnam proposes banning its workers from all massage jobs abroad
The government has proposed barring Vietnamese workers from taking massage jobs abroad in any form, saying the wider ban would reduce their exposure to trafficking, exploitation and forced labor.
On August 5, the National Assembly of Vietnam discussed amendments to the 2020 Law on Vietnamese Guest Workers Working Abroad Under Contract. Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Tien Hai introduced a draft amendment that would prohibit massage jobs for Vietnamese workers abroad, extending the ban from only restaurants, hotels, and entertainment centers to any setting.
Companies would be required to provide detailed information on their websites about recruitment, selection criteria, working conditions, and workers' rights and obligations. They would also need to report any incidents affecting workers' lives, health, or entitlements, as well as any emergencies, to authorities and Vietnamese diplomatic missions.
In cases of abuse, violence, or discrimination, the company responsible for sending the worker would provide legal aid services. The draft also allows companies to create a pool of trained candidates before registering supply contracts, offering skills and language training in collaboration with vocational schools and employment service providers, with the caveat that the company cannot charge for the training until the foreign employer selects the worker.
The Ministry of Home Affairs drafted the bill to address issues of workers paying training fees without guarantees of employment or departure dates. The draft further penalizes false promises, misleading information, deceptive advertising, and other fraudulent tactics used to defraud workers. It also bans using overseas placement as a cover for illegal exit, human trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor.
Additionally, the draft expands the prohibition on sending workers to risky destinations, including conflict zones, contaminated areas, and places with dangerous epidemics. The National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Society approved the labor pool provisions, emphasizing the importance of a written agreement between companies and workers for legal protection.
The committee also suggested that the government determine state management responsibilities and inter-agency coordination for flexible implementation. The National Assembly is expected to pass the bill before the 16th legislature's extraordinary session concludes on August 24.
Written by urgent.news from VnExpress International's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
