The signing ceremony of MOU on promoting Technical Intern Trainee Program and Specified Skilled Worker Program between the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs and Ibaraki Prefectural Government of Japan has taken place in the afternoon of November 26^th. The meeting was held in the presence of Deputy Minister of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs – Mr. Le Van Thanh; Ibaraki Governor - Mr. Oikawa Kazuhiko and representatives of related departments, agencies and units of both sides.
At the signing ceremony, Mr. Le Van Thanh - Deputy Minister of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs – shared that after more than 45 years since diplomatic and cooperative relation between Vietnam and Japan was officially established, the cooperation between two countries has been developed extensively and increasingly effectively in all fields. In particular, cooperation in manpower between two countries has been increasingly respected. Many programs and projects have been implemented by the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs and Japan and their efficiency has been clearly shown, making an important contribution to the overall success of the cooperation between two countries.
Up to now, more than 250 thousand Vietnamese trainees have been sent to take intern and work in Japan. In 2018, the total number of trainees dispatched to Japan reached nearly 70,000, accounting for more than 50% of the reception of foreign workers by Japan; and Vietnam became the most dispatched country among the 15 countries sending workers to Japan. There are nearly 200,000 Vietnamese trainees in Japan. In addition, every year, Vietnam also sends thousands of technicians to Japan under the category of technical labors. According to statistics, currently more than 30,000 Vietnamese technical workers are working in Japanese factories.
At the ceremony, Mr. Oikawa Kazuhiko, Governor of Ibaraki (Japan) said that about 5,000 Vietnamese workers were living, studying and working in Ibaraki province. Over the past years, Vietnamese workers were provided with favorable conditions and they have made significant contributions to the economic development of Ibaraki. He believed on the basis of this MoU and close cooperation between two sides, more young Vietnamese workers shall have opportunity to study and work in Japan, contributing to a friendly relation between two countries.
“This Memorandum of Understanding between Ibaraki and Vietnam MOLISA will be the basis for Ibaraki to receive more Vietnamese workers to work there and this is also a condition for us to create a better working environment for Vietnamese workers. I hope that through this cooperation, Vietnamese workers will choose Ibaraki as an ideal place to work”, said by Mr. Oikawa Kazuhiko.
In the context that Japan's population is aging rapidly, foreign interns, especially Vietnamese workers, shall be an important supplementation to Japan's shortage of human resources in almost industries. This is also a valuable resource and a bridge to nurture bilateral relations. Mr. Oikawa Kazuhiko hopes that through this cooperation, Vietnamese workers will choose Ibaraki as an ideal destination to work in the future.

Source: Department of Overseas Labor Management