Germany signs deal with Vietnam to hire workers

The program to recruit skilled workers in 2022-23 by the Center for Overseas Labor, the German Federal Employment Agency and the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, formalized on Thursday, eyes college and university graduates with at least two years' experience in information technology, electronic engineering, food processing, and restaurant and hotel management.

The number of workers to be recruited has not been announced.

The program is funded by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and so recruits do not have to pay fees.

It will also cover the cost of German training for the workers and visa and other administrative fees.

Germany is plagued by a labor shortage due to its aging population.

According to the Institute of Economic Research in Germany, the country will face a shortage of more than five million workers by 2030.

Since 2015 Vietnam has sent nearly 1,000 nurses to work in that country.

Vietnam aims to send 100,000 workers to other countries each year for them to acquire knowledge and experience that can be put to use for its own development when they return.