Rectifying Vietnamese workers for 'drinking and gambling' in Romania

The situation of workers gathering to drink alcohol, gamble, leave work or illegally immigrate tarnishes the image of Vietnamese people in Romania, according to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

In a dispatch sent at the end of January to businesses sending workers to work in Romania, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs requested to rectify the above situation. This is a key, potential market, with open visa procedures and a need to receive many foreign workers, including those from Vietnam.

Earlier on January 20, when visiting the Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Romania as part of his European tour, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested reviewing labor export companies, after hearing overseas Vietnamese raise many problems. According to representatives of some associations, many workers work illegally or flee to third countries. Labor export companies do not fulfill their responsibilities and abandon their workers.

Workers monitor the transfer of corn at the port of Constanta, Romania, May 2022. Photo: AFP. — Workers monitor the transfer of corn at the port of Constanta, Romania, May 2022. Photo: *AFP.*

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs requires businesses to discuss with employers measures to monitor living regulations to limit workers from gathering to drink alcohol and gamble, and prevent bad guys from luring them to third countries.

Enterprises must report to the Overseas Labor Management Department and the Vietnamese Embassy in Romania on an ad hoc basis to protect workers’ rights when problems arise. In places where many Vietnamese workers work together, enterprises must manage them in a team or group model to promptly detect and thoroughly handle negative activities. Workers who break their contracts will be notified to their families and localities.

When training, companies must monitor and eliminate from the list of workers who do not really need to work or have poor discipline, are fond of playing, addicted to alcohol, or gamble. At the same time, businesses must review the list of runaway workers by hometown, identify the locality with many people who abandon their contracts and flee to third countries to have a selection plan for the next batch.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs will regularly inspect and strictly handle businesses that do not fully fulfill their responsibilities, do not publicly and transparently disclose labor costs before departure, or do not manage well, causing workers to leave their contracts to work outside the country. Businesses that do not meet the conditions will have their licenses to send workers abroad temporarily suspended or revoked.

Since 2018, Vietnam has sent nearly 11,000 workers to Romania to work in common occupations such as welding, construction, carpentry, mechanical assembly, etc. The basic salary in 2017-2018 was about 600-1,200 USD per month depending on the profession, with a two-year contract term and renewable.

Vietnam established diplomatic relations with Romania in 1950. From 1950 to 1989, Romania provided aid and loans to Vietnam to develop a number of economic sectors. After the country changed its political regime at the end of 1989, the two countries continued to develop relations and cooperate in many aspects.

Two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Romania has grown continuously, from more than 200 million USD in 2018 to double to more than 400 million USD in 2022.

Hong Chieu

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