Experts highlight potential of youth at dialogue on migration

Young people join an art performance at the dialogue. — Photo courtesy of the IOM

HÀ NỘI Representatives discussed the impact of globalisation and migration on youth during a dialogue held on Monday in Hà Nội.

The dialogue “Passport to Future: Creating Positive Change and Fostering Opportunities for Youth” was jointly hosted by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Việt Nam and the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union.

The dialogue, which was held in response to the International Migrants Day December 18, brought together Government officials, diplomats and experts from international agencies, and more than 200 young people in Hà Nội.

During the dialogue, participants called for enhanced investment in skills and knowledge transfer as key to increasing youths’ employment, equipping them with the tools they need to contribute to the development of Việt Nam, and confidently navigate the safe and regular pathways in this globalised world.

The discussions also contributed to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Youth and the Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030 and the Vietnamese Youth Development Strategy for 2021-30. 

Experts share opinions and information about migration. — Photo courtesy of the IOM

Nguyễn Tường Lâm, Secretary of the Central Committee of the HCM Communist Youth Union, and also Standing Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for Youth of Việt Nam, said: “Awareness raising activities for young people and promoting the close engagement of young people in the journey of safe migration are practical and significant activities.”

“We hope that ministries, departments, international organisations and non-governmental organisations will accompany young people in start-up, support creating a favourable environment and providing opportunities for young people to improve their skills in accessing services and safe migration information when participating in the labour market and studying at home and abroad.” 

Experts at the dialogue agreed that economic restructuring, changes in labour structure in industries and scarcity of jobs, labour migration and international study were inevitable results of the globalisation process.

Workers tend to migrate from provinces and countries with labour surplus and low income to provinces and countries with labour shortage and high income.

According to the General Statistics Office, the number of Vietnamese pursuing international migration accounts for nearly nine per cent of the population and the number of domestic migrants accounts for more than seven per cent of the population, mainly young people.

Young migrants often face challenges such as lack of soft skills, job application skills and job search skills in cyberspace.

They can encounter the situation of working in unsafe environments, being paid unfair wages, and being discriminated against in terms of salary compared to local workers.

In addition, due to language barriers and cultural differences, migrant workers also suffer many disadvantages.

Park Mihyung, Chief of Mission IOM Việt Nam, highlighted the potential that young people represent for societies and how migration can be an essential driver for their development and empowerment.

“In the future, even more people will be on the move, to seek better lives and diverse experience. Globalisation and the growth of the internet will create a different world for the youth. Therefore, it is even more critical for the younger generation to be equipped with knowledge and new skills to navigate this digitalised and globalised world,” she said.

“Young people embody our hope and can be agents of change for an inclusive and sustainable future. Act today, together we can create an enabling environment for young people’s participation in decision-making and to realise their full potential,” she said.

Young people’s proposals at the dialogue were sent to representatives of concerned government agencies, embassies and international organisations in Việt Nam. — VNS