Vietnamese guestworkers trained in Japan are becoming key human resources for Japanese-invested companies in Vietnam.

Vietnam is running short of qualified human resources, and many Japanese-invested companies prefer to recruit those who have already worked in their country because of their command of Japanese and their professional skills. 

Currently, more than 18,000 Vietnamese trainees are working in Japan. In 2011 alone, nearly 7,000 technicians were sent to Japan for training, 1.5 times the 2010 figure.

The number of contracts Japanese companies have signed with their Vietnamese counterparts to receive Vietnamese trainees is increasing, according to the Department of Overseas Labour (DOLAB) under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA).

DOLAB officials say that Japan continues to be a promising market for Vietnamese guestworkers in 2012.

A workshop was held in Nagoya city in late July to promote sending Vietnamese trainees to Japan and finding them suitable employment upon their return to Vietnam.

The Japan International Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO) proposed establishing an information channel to introduce trainees finishing their labour contracts and returning home to Japanese businesses that are developing investment projects in Vietnam.

JITCO representatives asked Vietnam to improve the quality of its trainees, especially in using Japanese language, to increase the number that can be recruited for various industries in the near future, mainly manufacturing.

They said Japanese businesses are now also in dire need of agricultural workers, which could offer many opportunities for Vietnamese trainees.

(VOV)