Speaking to Lao Dong reporter on the morning of December 24, Mr. Dang Sy Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Overseas Labor Management (Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs), said that the group of about 150 workers going to work in Japan came from two sources: one source went from Vietnam without going through dispatching enterprises; the second source was enterprises in Japan recruiting workers in Japan themselves.
“This group is owed wages for September and October 2024. Officers from the Labor Management Board and the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan have gone to the locality and instructed the workers to resolve the matter in order,” said Mr. Dang Sy Dung.
According to Mr. Dang Sy Dung, for now, the Labor Management Board in Japan has provided rice for workers to cook; at the same time, it has supported the procedures for workers to file complaints to claim their rights. Currently, a group of workers has transferred to a new employer, and will receive their normal salary in December; the remaining group is continuing to file complaints, and the Labor Management Board in Japan will continue to accompany them to resolve the matter.
Speaking to reporters at noon on December 24 from Japan, Mr. Phan Tien Hoang, Head of the Labor Management Board, Vietnamese Embassy in Japan said: "The Embassy is urging relevant Japanese agencies to request companies to pay outstanding salaries to Vietnamese workers. In case the company cannot pay, it will speed up the procedures so that workers can receive their salaries through the use of the salary debt payment system. At the same time, there will be specific and practical support for our workers to overcome difficulties due to not receiving their salaries."
According to the Vietnam Labor Management Board in Japan, in case the dispatching company declares bankruptcy, the competent authority will freeze the company's account to pay a portion of the salary in advance to the workers. If the money in the account is not enough to pay the salary, the provincial government will switch to the government's debt payment regime.
In case of switching to the Government's debt repayment scheme, the employee will be paid a maximum of 80% of the last 3 months' salary. Most employees are owed two months' salary.
