Hanoi (VNA) - The number of foreigners working in Vietnam has increasedsignificantly over the last ten years, the Ministry of Labour, Invalidsand Social Affairs (MoLISA) reported.

The number increased from more than 12,600 in 2004 to more than 83,500 in2015, the ministry has said.

Chinese workers make up 30.9 percent of Vietnam’s foreign workforce, with25,700 people, the ministry reported at a recent workshop held in Hanoi.

Republic of Koreans number over 15,300, Taiwanese more than 10,700 and Japaneseover 7,900.

HCM City is home to the largest number of foreign workers, with more than20,300 people, accounting for 24.3 percent, followed by neighbouring Binh Duongprovince with more than 12,000 people (14.4 percent), Ha Tinh 7,000 people (8.4percent), Hanoi 6,386 people (7.6 percent) and Dong Nai 6,205 people (7.4 percent).

The increasing number of foreign workers in Vietnam requires theimprovement of the legal system to ensure the rights of migrant workers,especially social security.

Social insurance authorities in Vietnam are developing "a c🍸ompulsory socialinsurance scheme for🦋 foreign workers" in the country, citing the need to followinternational practices as the country deepens integration. 

The 2014 Law on Social Insurance requires compulsory enrollment of foreignworkers in the social insurance scheme, starting in 2018, to ensure theirequality and welfare.

Tran Hai Nam from the MoLISA’s Department of Social Insurance saidemployees who are foreign citizens with work permits or practicecertificates granted by a competent Vietnamese agency shall be entitled tocompulsory social insurance in compliance with State laws.

The ministry’s draft decree proposed requiring foreign workers to take part inall five social insurance programmes – pension and insurance for sickness,maternity, vocational injuries, disease, and death.-VNA