The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has instructed cities and provinces to re-examine and monitor foreigners working in Vietnam.

In a document sent to local authorities, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thanh Hoa asked People’s Committees to focus on foreign employees who are working as doctors and pharmacist in health clinics, and those involved in farming and aquaculture in coastal border areas.

Hoa also asked local authorities to look at the demand for foreign workers from Vietnamese employers, NGOs and foreign partners, and their management.

Local authorities were asked to complete inspections and report back to the ministry by September 30.

Bui Thi Thuy Quynh, Chief Administrator of the ministry’s Employment Department said that the move will strengthen the management of foreign workers in Vietnam, especially after recent scandals involving unlicensed laborers.

Last month, a female patient died after she was treated by unlicensed Chinese doctors at the Maria Clinic on Hanoi’s Thai Thinh Street. The doctors disappeared following the fatality.

A comprehensive inspection was subsequently implemented across the city, and Chinese medicine clinics at 981 and 455 Giai Phong Street, 604 Truong Chinh Street and 59 Khuong Trung Street were found to have unlicensed Chinese doctors working for them. They also had unapproved medicine on sale and were violating medical practices and treatment regulations.

The clinics were fined between VND15-40.5 million (US$720-1,944) and had their business licenses revoked, depending on the severity of their violations.

In 2011, there were 13 foreign-invested clinics with 17 Chinese doctors operating in Hanoi, according to the municipal Department of Health.

The ministry’s Employment Department reported that more than 31,000 foreigners are working illegally in Vietnam, mostly from Asia countries.

These people have stayed in the country after their visas expired.

Source: VOV News