Since 2001, Malaysia has been one of Vietnam’s key partner markets in labor cooperation.
At its peak in 2003, as many as 200,000 Vietnamese workers were employed in Malaysia’s factories and construction sites. The global economic crisis affected Malaysia’s intake of Vietnamese workers. However, even during this difficult period, from 2008 to 2010, Malaysia remained among Vietnam’s top five markets for receiving general workers, alongside South Korea, Taiwan, the Middle East, and Japan.
Since late 2010, along with economic recovery, factories and workshops in Malaysia have resumed receiving Vietnamese workers, offering higher wages and better working conditions.
Alongside labor cooperation, many Malaysian businesspeople have invested successfully in Vietnam, including in steel manufacturing and commercial services.
During his official visit to Malaysia, in meetings with senior Malaysian leaders, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized that Vietnam would continue to strengthen labor cooperation with Malaysia.
Recently, the conflict in Libya affected more than 10,000 Vietnamese workers. The Prime Minister directly instructed the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, together with the aviation, public security, and foreign affairs sectors, to make efforts to evacuate Vietnamese citizens from the conflict zone. Workers who returned home ahead of schedule received support from the State and enterprises, including debt rescheduling and reduced costs so they could continue working in other countries, including Malaysia.
PV
According to Nanyang Siang Pau, Malaysia.