(VOV) – The ILO in Vietnam has called on Vietnamese trade unions to take a more active role in protecting migrant workers overseas, given that their numbers are expected to increase in the coming years.

The comment was made at a two-day workshop on “The role of trade unions in protecting migrant workers” that concluded in Thanh Hoa province on Wednesday. The event was organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL). According to the VGCL’s Legal Department, most Vietnamese migrant workers in other countries are not protected by trade unions due to the lack of policies and resources. ILO Asia Pacific senior specialist on workers activities Pong-Sul Ahn said trade unions could help migrant workers find recruitment agencies that offer good jobs with low fees. He said the law should be revised to include the role of trade unions in protecting migrant workers. Cooperation between Vietnamese trade unions and trade unions in the destination country should be promoted. According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), about 500,000 Vietnamese workers are working legally in 40 countries and territories. Vietnam plans to increase labour exports in the 2013-15 period, targeting an extra 100,000 workers being sent abroad each year.