Social risks of Vietnamese labour migration across the China border: The case of the Lao Cai international border gate

Abstract

Labour migration across the Vietnam-China border brings many economic opportunities for workers and border regions, yet it simultaneously poses significant social risks. This article aims to analyse the social risks faced by migrant workers, while proposing protective policies from the Vietnamese side. The study is based on a quantitative survey with 85 migrant workers and in-depth interviews of 3 cases at the Lao Cai international border gate. The results show that Vietnamese migrant workers often face exploitation, unsafe working conditions, lack of labour contracts, and heavy dependence on brokers. This article provides micro-level evidence of this reality while suggesting policies such as strengthening the regulation of brokerage activities, enhancing workers’ awareness and skills, establishing appropriate insurance mechanisms, and promoting socio-economic development in border regions. These findings provide a basis for improving the policy framework aimed at protecting migrant workers in the context of integration.