The Union of Vietnamese Associations in Germany, VBD Vietnam, in coordination with the programme shaping development-oriented migration, MEG/GIZ, held a seminar at Đồng Xuân cultural house in Berlin on building a fair and ethical labour migration model in Germany.
The Friday event took place against the backdrop of growing cooperation between Việt Nam and Germany in labour migration and vocational training. The cooperation also raises issues concerning workers' rights and safety, as well as the integration conditions for migrant workers and vocational trainees.
The organisers aim to move from spontaneous support activities towards an organised coordination mechanism and use the experience, resources and networks of the Vietnamese community in Germany to support migrant workers.
Professor Nguyễn Xuân Thính, acting chairman of VBD Vietnam, said the Vietnamese community was well positioned to guide and support newcomers, helping them identify potential difficulties early and find opportunities to integrate into local society.
He said VBD Vietnam should develop into a federal-level coordination hub, while its member associations should reach out to and support Vietnamese people in their localities. They could serve as a bridge to help newly arrived workers integrate and engage with the community.
Phan Quang Văn, first secretary in charge of educational cooperation and student affairs at the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany, stressed the need for stronger coordination among the Vietnamese community, businesses, training institutions, German authorities and the Vietnamese Embassy.
Lichtenberg district Mayor Martin Schaefer said Germany had a strong demand for migrant workers, particularly skilled labour, to meet labour-market needs. He said the Lichtenberg administration would remain a reliable partner and provide long-term support to foreign communities, including the Vietnamese community.
Participants highlighted persistent challenges, including differing German-language proficiency requirements, shortcomings in language training, cases in which some companies turned away Vietnamese trainees, and instances where workers' rights were not fully protected. They also stressed the need to ensure recruitment quality from the outset.
They noted that population ageing would mean Germany continued to need workers from third countries, including Việt Nam.
Participants said that strengthening the Vietnamese community's role and voice in shaping fair migration policies, while increasing the accountability of recruiting companies and labour brokers, was important for safe and sustainable labour migration.
Sources: Viet Nam News
