As European nations seek to broaden their workforce demographics and skill sets, Vietnamese laborers are adjusting their focus as traditional employment markets lose appeal.
For instance, in an effort to attract skilled workers, the German government has reduced the naturalization period for foreigners from eight to five years.
Additionally, foreign workers now enjoy equal employment rights and welfare benefits as local citizens. In January, Vietnam’s labor ministries signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Germany, opening up further avenues for collaboration.
According to the Overseas Labor Management Department, Vietnamese companies are increasingly dispatching workers to more than 10 European countries. Job assignments and salaries vary depending on the host country’s needs. Presently, Romania tops the list, hosting over 4,000 Vietnamese workers, with 90% employed in construction and industrial sectors.
Base salaries range from $650 per month for general workers to $800-$1,000 for skilled laborers.
Russian companies are seeking factory workers, food processors, and industrial machine operators, offering average monthly incomes of $500-$700 for an eight-hour workday, 22 days per month, excluding overtime.
Similarly, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland have demand for skilled general workers in industrial and agricultural sectors, with basic salaries ranging from $500 to $750 per month.
European employers typically provide accommodation and cover travel expenses for workers. Round-trip flight tickets at the start and end of contracts are also included.