Australia to allow up to 1,000 Vietnamese laborers in agricultural sector

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Australian Embassy announced the implementation of support measures for Vietnamese citizens under this program on Friday.

(Central row) Australian Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Renee Deschamps (L) and Nguyen Ba Hoan, Deputy Minister of Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, at the event to announce an MOU to allow Vietnamese to work in Australia in Hanoi, Sept. 6, 2024. Photo courtesy of the Australian Embassy in Vietnam

Participating Vietnamese workers can undertake short-term work (lasting from six to nine months) or long-term assignments (from one to four years). The job positions available require only low to semi-skilled agricultural work, including crop cultivation, meat processing, aquaculture (including fish farming), and forestry.

In early March, the prime ministers of both countries jointly announced the plan for the implementation of the program. The selection of Vietnamese service providers for sending workers abroad and Australian employers participating in the program is set to take place in September, with the choosing of the former coordinated by the ministry and Australian government.

In the first year of the program, one public service unit and up to six enterprises specializing in sending Vietnamese workers overseas will be selected. Recruitment fees will be paid by Australian employers to the Vietnamese service providers.

Cattle graze in a field near Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, Nov. 19, 2023. Photo by Reuters

Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan stated that labor cooperation is a crucial component of the Vietnam-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. He noted that this agreement would meet the wishes of Vietnamese workers seeking to work in Australia to improve their language skills, gain knowledge, and enhance technical expertise in agriculture while earning higher incomes. At the same time, it would also cater to relevant demand from Australian employers.

Australian Deputy Ambassador Renée Deschamps highlighted the significance of this cooperative program for both sides. The nations are committed to ensuring the safety of participating workers and minimizing risks related to fraud, unethical recruitment practices, and labor exploitation, she said.