On May 2012, Ho Chi Minh City based Esuhai has become the first privately owned firm to receive ODA loan from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) to build up the Vietnam-Japan Centre for Technological Workforce Training & Development. According to Mr. Le Long Son, General Director of Esuhai, this is a great opportunity for Esuhai and for Vietnamese laborers to access to Japanese labor market – one of the largest economies in the world. Vietnam Business Forum talks with Mr. Le Long Son about Esuhai’s activities and this project. Le Phuong reports.
What makes Esuhai the first privately owned firm to receive ODA loan from JICA in Vietnam?
As you may know, the purpose of ODA is to support developing countries such as Vietnam. Besides economic development, education & training is one of the first prioritized fields. I am so proud of being the first privately owned company to receive ODA loan from JICA. The reasons why Esuhai receive this honor include: 1) we are listed in the JICA’s prioritized projects – education & training. 2) Although it is just a small project, but this project is related to social development, boosting the economic and human resource co-operation between Japan and Vietnam. 3) Many departments and ministries in both Japan and Vietnam highly appreciate the feasibility of Esuhai’s operation model. Last but not least, although the project is in the trial period, but we have a detailed plan to expand this model in the future.
Could you please brief about Esuhai’s main activities in Vietnam and from what idea leads to the launch of Esuhai in Vietnam?
It is a long story. Back in 1995, after graduating from HCMC University of Technology, I went to Japan for further studying my major subject - mechanical engineering. After several years of accessing Japanese mechanical engineering industry, I realize the case that Japanese young people are not interested in mechanical engineering while there is still a huge demand of labor force in this field from Japanese small and medium-sized companies. Moreover, Japanese is ageing faster than any country in the world. Till 2006, I decided to open Esuhai Company specializing in training Vietnamese labors and sending them to Japan to work. Esuhai also offers Japanese language training courses, soft skills & job related skills training such as team spirit; behavioral traits (attitude, motivation and time management); social grace; business etiquette, etc.
At the same time, Esuhai provides job consultancy and vocational guidance services. We also open an office in Japan to support for Vietnamese laborers. For over 6 years, Esuhai has affirmed its role of connecting Vietnamese human resource to Japanese companies. We have sent about 700 Vietnamese laborers to Japan. In the future, we expect to send 1000 laborers/ year to Japan.
Compared to other countries, according to you, what are the advantages of working in Japan?
Japan is one of the leading industrial powers in the world where highly skilled laborers can improve their skills and access to advanced technology, and of course, they can have good incomes.
Especially, from 1st July 2010, Japan immigration management law had a positive change that the period of technical internship in Japan increases from 2 to 3 years. This change creates many benefits for Vietnamese laborers.
At the same time, despite Vietnam’s continued growth in recent years, majority of Vietnamese people remains poor, especially in remote areas. Working in Japan is identified as one of the major solutions that is not only reducing the unemployment rate in Vietnam but also an effective education & training program for highly skilled laborers, contributing to the industrialization of country.
According to you, what are weaknesses of Vietnamese laborers in Japan and how Esuhai help them?
Workers perform their jobs well only when guided by good management and good policies. Some weaknesses of Vietnamese laborers in Japan are professional skill, language and discipline. So Esuhai offers them good training before sending them abroad. Teaching Japanese language is very important; Esuhai has a team of Japanese teachers in charge of language training. Besides, laborers will be equipped with necessary knowledge and information, Esuhai helps them understand that working abroad is not only a way to make ends meet but also a national strategy, so they have to uphold the nation’s image.
Do you have any policy to support laborers when they return Vietnam after 3 years of working in Japan?
When they return home after3 years of working in Japan, Esuhai continues to train them. We offer training courses of management skills, so they can find a job in Japanese companies in Vietnam. At the moment, we have many connections with local Japanese companies to provide highly skilled human resource. So, Vietnamese laborers after returning home will have opportunities to get a management position in these companies.
