With a view to better manage migrant workers in both Russia and Vietnam, Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a labor cooperation agreement between the two countries.

>> Russian President to visit Vietnam on Nov. 12 The inter-governmental agreement on temporary labor migration, which was signed by the two governments in Moscow on October 27, 2008, has been ratified by the Russian Duma (Lower House) and Federation Council (the Upper House of Parliament).

The agreement is aimed at setting up a legal framework to regulate the temporary employment of Russian citizens on Vietnamese territory and Vietnamese workers in Russia, and managing immigrated labors to suit the socio-economic development of each country.

The document underlined the migrant workers’ legal status, ensuring their rights and freedom, legal protection and private safety as foreign citizens in line with the host country’s law. It also specifies regulations on labor immigration, social issues, healthcare services, tax, immigration and travelling by citizens of the two countries. In related news, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry reported on last Friday that President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin will pay an official to Vietnam on November 12, at the invitation of President Truong Tan Sang. The visit is aimed to boost the all-around ties between the two countries, which established a strategic partnership in 2001 and upgraded the relationship to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership last year.