The circulars announce ceiling rates set for deposits paid by all workers and the standard-isation of contracts. Both come into effect next month.

Under Circular 21, the ceilings for deposits are set depending on the types of jobs taken by workers and the destination countries.

The highest ceiling is US$3,000 for those going to work as interns in Japan or as seafarers on inshore fishing boats in South Korea.

The lowest ceiling is $300 for those heading to Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Laos to work in any trade.

In addition, a ceiling deposit of $2000 has been set for any type of worker going to Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Germany, and countries in the Americas.

Another new regulation, circular 22, requires that labour-export contracts specify details, such as the exact job, name and location of the employer, the clear responsibilities of all parties, and better procedures for dispute settlement.

The new rules mean that labour-export agencies will no longer be able to impose their own conditions in contracts. They will have to follow standard conditions, including one requesting them to return costs paid by workers if they fail to send them abroad.

Tran Van Tu, director of the General Confederation of Labour's policy division told the media that the new circulars would tackle unhealthy competition among agencies and "black costs" that workers often had to pay to go abroad.

"To achieve those goals, however, State authorities will need to step up inspection over labour-export companies," he said.

According to the Department of Overseas Labour, in the first 10 months of the year, Viet Nam sent more than 70,250 workers overseas, amounting to 88 per cent of the year's target.

There are about 170 labour-export companies operating in Viet Nam.

(Source: vietnamnews.vn)