Provincial and municipal authorities should consider deporting foreign workers without work permits or those failing to comply with entry and exit rules applicable to foreigners in Vietnam, the central labor agency has proposed.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs made this proposal in its urgent dispatch sent to all centrally-run cities and provinces on Friday.

The ministry said in the document that the current COVID-19 pandemic has been developing very complicatedly in the world as well as in Vietnam, and tends to be more complex in the coming time.

Meanwhile, many localities throughout the country have been facing a situation in which foreigners enter Vietnam illegally or enter the country to seek employment not in accordance with local laws, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung said in the dispatch.

The minister asked chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and cities to strengthen labor inspections and examinations and strictly handle any individuals or organizations that receive and use illegal workers, as well as violations of labor legislation.

Authorities should consider expelling foreign workers who work in Vietnam without work permits (or certificates of exemption from such permits) or those failing to comply with regulations on entry, exit, transit or residence applied for foreigners in Vietnam.

In addition, relevant agencies are required to review the employment of foreign workers at all businesses and other establishments, the document states.

At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the management of all entries of foreigners as well as the registration of employment of foreigners at enterprises and other entities, the ministry said.

It is a must to ensure no illegal foreign immigrants are employed in Vietnam, the minister said in the dispatch.

Local authorities should review and strictly control the issuance of work permits for foreign workers in accordance with applicable regulations and procedures.

The ministry also requests relevant agencies to inspect the compliance with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control at all enterprises and other establishments that employ foreigners.

Any violators of such rules must be strictly dealt with and suspended from operation, the ministry required.

Local authorities should deliver their review results to the ministry before May 25 to serve as a foundation for the ministry to make a report to the Prime Minister.