Deputy Minister Nguyễn Bá Hoan receives and works with the delegation from the Ministry of Trade and Labor Export Development of Saskatchewan (Canada).Deputy Minister Nguyễn Bá Hoan noted that in recent years, the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Canada has continuously developed, especially in the fields of trade and investment. However, labor cooperation between the two countries remains modest, despite Canada’s high demand for workers and Vietnam’s abundant labor force, with a population in its demographic dividend period.

The Deputy Minister cited that since 2021, the Department of Overseas Labor Management (under MoLISA) has approved four labor supply contracts implemented by Vietnam-Japan Human Resources Corporation (JAVICO) to send nearly 300 Vietnamese workers to Canada.

In addition to JAVICO, Vi-tech Company is currently completing the necessary procedures to register a labor supply contract for sending Vietnamese workers to Canada in the construction sector.

Regarding cooperation with the Province of Saskatchewan, the Deputy Minister stated that in 2010, MoLISA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Education, Employment, and Labor Development of Saskatchewan, Canada, on cooperation in labor, employment, and human resource development.

However, the implementation of the MOU has not yielded the expected results for both sides. To date, no Vietnamese workers have been sent to Canada under this program.

Deputy Minister Nguyễn Bá Hoan proposed that both sides engage in discussions and negotiations to sign a new MOU to replace the existing one, as many provisions in the previously signed MOU are no longer in line with Canadian law, Saskatchewan’s regulations, and Vietnam’s legal framework.

Minister Warren Kaeding expressed his gratitude to Deputy Minister Nguyễn Bá Hoan for his time and warm reception of the delegation.

Minister Warren Kaeding shared that Saskatchewan is the third-largest province in Canada by land area and the fifth-largest economy among Canadian provinces, with a relatively low population of 1.2 million.

The province's economy is based on agriculture and forestry, mining (potash, uranium, oil, and gas), and the information technology industry. "From now until 2030, Saskatchewan is expected to require approximately 150,000 skilled foreign workers to meet the province’s development needs," Minister Warren Kaeding emphasized.

At the same time, the legal system of Saskatchewan (Canada) has been increasingly improved to better protect workers, while the province’s well-developed education system supports laborers in enhancing their skills while working there.

Minister Warren Kaeding expressed his desire to strengthen labor cooperation between MoLISA and Saskatchewan to increase the number of Vietnamese workers in the province. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of preventing illegal migration and ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of workers./.