ベトナムの労働力輸出 : 技能実習生の失踪問題への対応

Abstract

The number of Vietnamese workers participating in Japanese Technical Intern Training Program has been increasing rapidly in recent years. While this phenomenon is seen as part of the increasingly closer relationships between the two countries, it has also brought about some unfavorable side effects. The number of Vietnamese technical interns who run away from their workplaces, become illegal workers or even criminals has been on the rise. This paper attempts to examine the effectiveness of the measures taken by the Vietnamese side to tackle with this problem of desertion among Vietnamese technical interns. The paper will firstly focus on regulations by the concerned governmental agencies such as the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), and then the development and application of the Code of Conduct (COC) for sending agencies by the Association of Manpower Supply (VAMAS). It turns out that various regulations on the pre-departure costs incurred by the workers are complicated, unclear, and seemingly contradicting with each other. MOLISA has de facto discretion in applying some of the provisions although there is no reference in the document. While there is an abundance of incorrect and tricky information related to labor export on the Internet, it is very difficult to get to accurate information, provided that there is “accurate information” at all. Regarding the COC, while it is a well-intended and well-designed initiative to promote legal compliance among sending agencies and better protection of workers’ rights, it is not a mechanism to find out bad practice or punish bad actors. The COC is implemented by only part of the sending agencies, and its ranking system has not yet received broad recognition.