Scores of Vietnamese have come to Japan for internships. The country's labour export market has the largest percentage of Vietnamese labourers who return home to a good job, according to the Department of Overseas Labour. Thus, in recent years, internship programmesto Japan have attracted Vietnamese workers and businesses.
3 years after doing internships and translation work in Japan, Đoàn Lượng is currently working for a Hanoi-based Japanese firm. He said these 3 years helped hone his Japanese competency, and he is now paid 30%-40% higher than workers who only have local experience.
"My language ability improved after working in Japan, which helps me a lot in my current job. I also learn from Japanese people who are always punctual, hard-working, and enthusiastic." - Doan Luong, Chau Hung Joint Stock Company.
Besides translation, Japan is currently recruiting interns for over 70 fields such as construction, engineering, food processing, textiles, nursing, and health. The number of Vietnamese interns in Japan has risen significantly every year. Many Japanese firms are interested in Vietnamese interns because of their skills and hard-working attitudes.
"Japan is an important labour export market for Vietnam. Few problems are reported. After doing internships and working in Japan, many Vietnamese workers gain necessary skills and become successful when they return home." - Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, General Director, Department of Overseas Labour, Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs.
"There are two main reasons why Japanese firms are interested in skilled Vietnamese labourers. First, Japanese firms are switching their investment market from China to Vietnam, especially in the garment and textile sector. Second, workers are in high demand for infrastructure restoration and construction, as the 2020 Summer Olympics will be held in Tokyo, Japan." - KANJI NAKAHARA, Rector of a Training School.
In light of Japanese demand, more and more Vietnamese firms are offering skilled labour export services. As of May 2016, there are 200 firms that provide interns to Japan.
"We wish to create a high-performing workforce. Many trainees more effectively contribute to the nation’s development when they return home. They are also highly valued by Japanese firms." - Nguyen Minh Huyen, Manager of a Training Company.
Vietnam started to send interns to Japan in 1992. According to Japan International Training Cooperation Organisation, about 17000 Vietnamese interns have been sent to Japan as of 2015.
