Law on Employment 2025, No. 74/2025/QH15

LAW

On Employment^[1]

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;

The National Assembly promulgates the Law on Employment.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Law provides employment creation support policies, labor registration, the labor market information system, occupational skills development, employment services, unemployment insurance, and state management of employment.

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

In this Law, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. Worker means a Vietnamese citizen who is aged full 15 years or older, has ability to work and seeks employment. Minor workers must satisfy the conditions specified by the Labor Code.

2. Employment means an income-generating working activity not banned by law.

3. National occupational skills standards means requirements on professional and technical knowledge, practice capacity, and ability to apply such knowledge and capacity which are required for a worker to perform his/her job depending on each level of qualifications and skills for each occupation.

4. Unemployment insurance means a type of compulsory insurance organized by the State and participated by employees and employers to support the maintenance of employment, training, employment counseling and job placement, and offset part of income of employees when they become unemployed based on their contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

5. Public employment means paid temporary employment which is created through the implementation of state-funded programs, projects or activities in localities.

6. Database on workers means a collection of data on workers which are arranged and organized for access, exploitation, sharing, management and updating.

7. Discrimination in employment means an act of discriminating, excluding or prioritizing workers based on their race, skin color, national origin or social origin, ethnicity, sex, age, pregnancy status, marital status, marital status, religion, belief, disability, illness, and family responsibility that affects their equality in employment or occupational opportunities, unless such discrimination stems from specific requirements of certain jobs and aims to maintain and protect the employment for vulnerable workers.

Article 3. Principles related to employment

1. Guaranteeing the right to work and freely choose jobs and workplaces.

2. Ensuring equality in employment opportunities, salaries and incomes.

3. Ensuring occupational safety and health for workers.

Article 4. The State’s policies on employment

1. To facilitate socio-economic development aiming to create employment for workers, and include employment creation objectives in socio-economic development strategies, master plans and plans; to develop employment in the private economic sector; to allocate resources for the implementation of policies and strategies on employment and occupational skills development; to develop unemployment insurance policies.

2. To provide free counseling and job placement to workers and provide free labor market information through public employment service organizations.

3. To promote labor restructuring in a sustainable manner as suitable to the economic structure.

4. To support employment creation, self-employment and employment change.

5. To support the development of the labor market, and prioritize the investment in developing infrastructure to meet digital transformation requirements.

6. To promote the development of occupational skills and employment creation in the fields of science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, circular economy and green economy.

7. To encourage organizations and individuals to support and carry out activities for developing occupational skills, and participate in training, retraining, employment creation, self-employment and employment maintenance in a sustainable manner.

Article 5. Prohibited acts

1. Practicing discrimination in employment.

2. Committing fraud or forging dossiers in the implementation of policies on employment, employment services, assessment of national occupational skills and grant of national occupational skills certificates.

3. Taking advantage of employment service activities to infringe upon the national sovereignty, national defense, security, interests of the country and the nation, social order and safety, public interests, and lawful rights and interests of agencies, organizations and individuals.

4. Illegally exploiting, sharing, trading in, exchanging, appropriating or using information and data in the database on workers and labor market information.

Article 6. State management of employment

1. Contents of state management of employment:

a/ Promulgating, and organizing the implementation of, legal documents on employment;

b/ Popularizing, disseminating and educating about the law on employment;

c/ Managing workers, labor market information, development of occupational skills, employment creation support policies, employment services and unemployment insurance;

d/ Inspecting, examining and supervising the implementation of employment policies and laws; settling complaints and denunciations, and handling violations of the law on employment;

dd/ Carrying out international cooperation on employment.

2. The responsibility for state management of employment is as follows:

a/ The Government shall perform the unified state management of employment;

b/ The Ministry of Home Affairs shall act as the focal-point agency assisting the Government in performing the state management of employment;

c/ Ministries and ministerial-level agencies shall, within the ambit of their tasks and powers, coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs in performing the state management of employment;

d/ People’s Committees at all levels shall, within the ambit of their tasks and powers, perform the state management of employment in localities.

Article 7. Responsibilities of agencies, organizations and individuals for employment

1. The Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations shall, within the ambit of their functions and tasks, carry out public communication among and mobilize agencies, organizations and individuals to create employment for workers; and carry out oversight and social criticism in the formulation and implementation of employment policies and laws in accordance with law.

2. Agencies and organizations shall, within the ambit of their tasks and powers, popularize and disseminate employment policies and laws; create employment; and protect lawful rights and interests of employees and employers in accordance with law.

3. Individuals shall take the initiative in seeking employment and participating in employment creation and improvement of occupational skills.

Chapter II

EMPLOYMENT CREATION SUPPORT POLICIES

Article 8. Credit incentives for employment creation

1. The State shall provide credit incentives to support employment creation, maintain and expand employment, and provide support for guest workers through the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, using the funding sources for provision of  employment creation loans.

2. Funding sources for providing employment creation loans include:

a/ The central budget’s allocations for the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies;

b/ Local budget funds transferred to the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies;

c/ Sources mobilized by the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies for which the state budget has provided interest rate difference subsidies and management charges;

d/ Funding sources transferred by organizations and individuals to the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies.

3. Based on the budget-balancing capacity of localities and the employment demand, provincial-level People’s Councils shall decide to allocate funds from local budgets and other lawful funding sources and assign same-level People’s Committees to transfer such money amounts to the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies for provision of employment creation loans.

Article 9. Policies on provision of employment creation loans

1. Eligible for borrowing loans in support of employment creation, maintenance and expansion are:

a/ Small- and medium-sized enterprises, cooperatives, unions of cooperatives, cooperative groups and business households (below collectively referred to as production and business establishments);

b/ Workers.

2. Eligible for borrowing loans in support of overseas working under contracts are guest workers.

3. Eligible for borrowing loans in support of employment creation, maintenance and expansion at lower interest rates are:

a/ Production and business establishments that employ a large number of people with disabilities, ethnic minority people, people who have completely served their imprisonment sentences, people who have completely served decisions on consignment into compulsory education institutions or people who have completely served decisions on consignment into compulsory drug rehabilitation facilities;

b/ Workers who are ethnic minority people and members of poor households;

c/ Workers who are of Kinh ethnic group and members of poor households living in areas with extremely difficult socio-economic conditions as specified by the Government;

d/ Workers who are people with disabilities; workers who are members of households directly nurturing or caring for people with exceptionally severe disabilities; and workers who undertake to nurture or care for people with exceptionally severe disabilities;

dd/ Other subjects as decided by the Government based on the socio-economic situation and the demand for employment creation loans.

4. Eligible for borrowing loans in support of overseas working under contracts at lower interest rates are:

a/ Workers who are ethnic minority people and members of poor households;

b/ Workers who are of Kinh ethnic group and members of poor households living in areas with extremely difficult socio-economic conditions as specified by the Government;

c/ Other subjects as decided by the Government based on the socio-economic situation and the demand for employment creation loans.

5. Production and business establishments may borrow loans in support of employment creation, maintenance and expansion when fully satisfying the following conditions:

a/ Having feasible loan use plans in support of employment creation, maintenance and expansion as suitable to their production and business lines;

b/ Making loan collateral in accordance with law.

6. Workers may borrow loans in support of employment creation, maintenance and expansion when fully satisfying the following conditions:

a/ Having full civil act capacity;

b/ Having plans on use of loans for employment creation, maintenance and expansion.

7. Workers may borrow loans in support of overseas working under contracts when fully satisfying the following conditions:

a/ Having full civil act capacity;

b/ Having entered into contracts with service enterprises or non-business units that send persons abroad to work as guest workers in accordance with law;

c/ Making loan collateral in accordance with law.

8. For funding sources transferred from local budgets to the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, provincial-level People’s Councils shall decide on subjects other than those specified in Clauses 3 and 4 of this Article that are eligible for borrowing loans at lower interest rates.

9. For funding sources transferred by organizations and individuals to the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, such organizations and individuals shall decide on subjects eligible for borrowing loans.

10. The Government shall detail Point a, Clause 3 of this Article; and specify loan interest rates, loan levels, loan term, dossiers, order and procedures for borrowing loans, and collateral conditions for loans in support of employment creation, maintenance and expansion or loans in support of overseas working under contracts, for the funding sources specified in Clause 2, Article 8 of this Law.

Article 10. Policies to support occupation or employment change for workers in rural areas

1. Based on socio-economic development strategies, master plans and plans, the State shall provide support for occupation or employment change for workers in rural areas.

2. Workers in rural areas engaged in occupation or employment change are entitled to:

a/ Borrow loans in support of employment creation, maintenance and expansion or borrow loans in support of overseas working under contracts in accordance with this Law;

b/ Receive vocational training support under the Government’s regulations.

Article 11. Public employment policies

1. Public employment policies shall be implemented through state-funded programs, projects and activities associated with socio-economic development in localities.

2. For the programs, projects and activities specified in Clause 1 of this Article, participatory community implementation as a form of contractor selection may be applied in accordance with the bidding law.

3. Public employment priority will be given to workers who are ethnic minority people; members of poor households or households living just above the poverty line; the elderly; people with disabilities; members of households directly nurturing or caring for people with exceptionally severe disabilities; people undertaking to nurture or care for people with exceptionally severe disabilities; and people whose land is recovered and who are entitled to training, occupation change and employment-seeking support in accordance with the land law.

4. The Government shall specify the implementation of public employment policies.

Article 12. Policies on employment support for young workers

1. Young workers are entitled to vocational training support under the Government’s regulations if they are:

a/ Young people who have fulfilled military service or service in the People’s Public Security forces;

b/ Youth volunteers who have fulfilled their task of implementing socio-economic development programs or projects;

c/ Young intellectual volunteers who have fulfilled their tasks in economic-defense zones.

2. Young workers may borrow loans in support of employment creation, maintenance and expansion or borrow loans in support of overseas working under contracts in accordance with this Law.

3. Young workers are entitled to support for startup activities in accordance with law.

Article 13. Policies on employment support for elderly workers

1. Elderly workers may borrow loans in support of employment creation, maintenance and expansion in accordance with this Law.

2. Elderly workers are entitled to support for training and further training for improvement of their occupational qualifications and skills, participation in assessment of national occupational skills, and issuance of national occupational skills certificates in accordance with this Law.

3. Based on socio-economic conditions in each period and the budget-balancing capacity, the State shall adopt policies on support for employment, retraining and training for occupation change for workers in order to adapt to population aging.

Article 14. Support for guest workers

1. Workers falling into one of the following cases are entitled to support before going abroad to work as guest workers:

a/ People with meritorious service to the revolution or their relatives;

b/ Ethnic minority people;

c/ Members of poor households or households living just above the poverty line;

d/ People whose land is recovered and who are entitled to training, occupation change and employment-seeking support in accordance with the land law;

dd/ People who have fulfilled military service or service in the People’s Public Security forces;

e/ Youth volunteers who have fulfilled their task of implementing socio-economic development programs or projects;

g/ Young intellectual volunteers who have fulfilled their tasks in economic-defense zones.

2. Support covers:

a/ Orientation education for workers before they go abroad to work as guest workers;

b/ Training and further training for improvement of occupational qualifications and skills and foreign language skills of workers to meet requirements of foreign partners as worker recipients;

c/ Other expenses for guest workers.

3. The Government shall detail Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 15. Support for labor market development

1. The State’s responsibilities for providing support for labor market development:

a/ To build, manage, operate, exploit and upgrade the technological infrastructure system and the database on workers and the labor market information system;

b/ To invest in building, capacity building and modernization of employment service activities of public employment service organizations; to develop the national employment exchange.

2. Funds for the implementation of Clause 1 of this Article shall be covered by the state budget in accordance with the law on the state budget and the law on public investment, and from other sources in accordance with law.

Chapter III

LABOR REGISTRATION

Article 16. Labor registration principles

1. Simplicity, convenience, promptness, accuracy, publicity and transparency in labor registration order and procedures.

2. Guarantee of lawful rights and interests of employers and employees upon labor registration.

3. Application of science, technology and e-transactions in labor registration.

4. Receipt, updating and modification of information on workers in the database on workers, and its connectivity and synchrony with the National Integrated Database, national databases, specialized databases and other databases.

Article 17. Labor registration information and database on workers

1. Labor registration information of a worker includes:

a/ Group of essential information: family name, middle name and first name as stated in the birth certificate; personal identification number; date of birth; sex; nationality; and current place of residence;

b/ Group of information on general education, vocational education, higher education, occupational skills certificates and other certificates;

c/ Group of information on employment status and employment demand;

d/ Group of information on social insurance and unemployment insurance;

dd/ Other groups of information on characteristics and particularities of the worker.

2. Employers and employees shall register and modify labor registration information upon the registration and modification of social insurance participation information.

3. Workers other than those specified in Clause 2 of this Article who wish to register or modify labor registration information shall submit their dossiers for labor registration information registration or modification to labor registries.

4. The information specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall be connected, updated, synchronized and shared from the National Integrated Database, national databases, specialized databases and other databases in accordance with this Law, the law on data, and other relevant laws.

5. The database on workers shall be built and managed in a centralized and uniform manner nationwide in accordance with the law on data.

6. The Government shall detail this Article; specify dossiers, order, procedures and places for labor registration; and provide the receipt, management, exploitation, connection, sharing and use of the database on workers.

Article 18. Rights and obligations of workers     

1. Workers have the following rights:

a/ To have their own labor registration information protected in accordance with the law on protection of personal data and other relevant laws;

b/ To exploit their personal information in the database on workers;

c/ To have their labor registration information in the database on workers modified and updated by competent agencies;

d/ To use their personal information in the database on workers in transactions, access to and enjoyment of employment creation support policies; assessment of national occupational skills and issuance of national occupational skills certificates; employment counseling and job placement; and unemployment insurance in accordance with this Law.

2. Workers have the following obligations:

a/ To carry out labor registration in accordance with this Law;

b/ To provide their labor registration information in a sufficient, accurate, truthful and timely manner to competent state agencies and employers, and take responsibility for the information they provide;

c/ To promptly modify their information in the database on workers as specified at Point a, Clause 1, Article 17 of this Law upon any change.

Chapter IV

THE LABOR MARKET INFORMATION SYSTEM

Article 19. The labor market information system

1. The labor market information system is a combination of such factors as technological infrastructure, software and data that are built and managed in a centralized and uniform manner nationwide to serve management, research, policymaking, analysis and forecasting of the labor market, and provision of support to agencies, organizations and individuals participating in the labor market.

2. The labor market information system will have its data connected, updated, synchronized and shared with the National Integrated Database, national databases, the database on workers, specialized databases and other databases in order to serve labor market information updating, sharing and exploitation.

3. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 20. Labor market information

1. Labor market information includes:

a/ Information on labor supply, labor demand and labor supply and demand connection;

b/ Information on training and occupational qualifications and skills;

c/ Information on employment-seeking trends and labor demand;

d/ Information on salaries and incomes of workers.

2. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, and provincial-level People’s Committees at all levels shall, within the ambit of their functions, tasks and powers, provide and share information and data related to labor market information to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

3. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 21. Management, operation and exploitation of the labor market information system

1. The management, operation and exploitation of the labor market information system must comply with this Law, the law on access to information, the law on data, and other relevant laws.

2. The state management agencies in charge of employment shall:

a/ Manage, operate, update and exploit the labor market information system to serve research and policymaking activities;

b/ Analyze, forecast and disseminate labor market information within their competence;

c/ Disseminate labor market information on their websites, in the mass media and by other lawful means.

3. Agencies, organizations and individuals may access, exploit and use disseminated labor market information.

Chapter V

DEVELOPMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS

Article 22. Contents of, and support for, the development of occupational skills

1. The development of occupational skills covers:

a/ Formulation, management and implementation of the national occupational qualifications and skills framework;

b/ Formulation and declaration of national occupational skills standards based on the national occupational qualifications and skills framework to meet requirements of the labor market and conform to regional and international occupational qualifications and skills standards; formulation and development of assessment toolkits for recognition of national occupational skills and issuance of national occupational skills certificates;

c/ Promulgation of the list of occupations and jobs requiring national occupational skills certificates;

d/ Training and further training for improvement of occupational qualifications and skills of workers in accordance with law;

dd/ Building of capacity of the system of occupational skills assessment organizations;

e/ Recognition and mutual recognition of national occupational skills certificates between Vietnam and other countries;

g/ Assurance of rights and obligations of employees and employers in the improvement of occupational qualifications and skills of workers in accordance with law;

h/ Building of the database on contents of the development of occupational skills.

2. Assurance of the participation of stakeholders in the development of occupational skills.

3. The State shall provide support for the following categories of workers upon their participation in training, further training and improvement of their occupational qualifications and skills, and assessment of national occupational skills and issuance of national occupational skills certificates:

a/ People with meritorious service to the revolution or their relatives;

b/ Members of poor households or households living just above the poverty line;

c/ People with disabilities;

d/ The elderly;

dd/ Ethnic minority people;

e/ People who have fulfilled military service or service in the People’s Public Security forces;

g/ Youth volunteers who have fulfilled the task of implementing socio-economic development programs and projects;

h/ Young intellectual volunteers who have fulfilled their tasks in economic-defense zones;

i/ Other subjects as decided by the Government based on the socio-economic situation.

4. The Government shall detail this Article; and specify the provision of support for training and further training for improvement of occupational qualifications and skills and the provision of support for assessment of national occupational skills and issuance of national occupational skills certificates.

Article 23. National occupational qualifications and skills framework and national occupational skills standards

1. The national occupational qualifications and skills framework is a frame for classification of levels of occupational qualifications and skills.

2. National occupational skills standards shall be formulated, appraised, declared and applied based on each level of occupational qualifications and skills for each occupation and the national occupational qualifications and skills framework.

3. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 24. Assessment of national occupational skills and issuance of national occupational skills certificates

1. National occupational skills certificate is a document issued by a competent state agency to recognize that a worker is fully capable of performing a job up to requirements of a certain level of an occupation’s qualifications and skills based on results of the assessment of occupational skills by a national occupational skills assessment organization.

2. Applicants for issuance or re-issuance of national occupational skills certificates shall pay a fee in accordance with the law on charges and fees, except cases requiring issuance or re-issuance of certificates due to the fault of competent agencies.

3. The assessment of national occupational skills must adhere to the following principles:

a/ Ensuring voluntariness of workers;

b/ Being based on national occupational skills standards;

c/ Ensuring accuracy, independence, impartiality, fairness and transparency.

4. Contents of the assessment of national occupational skills include:

a/ Professional and technical knowledge;

b/ Practice skills;

c/ Occupational safety and health process;

d/ Other contents depending on specific characteristics of occupations and jobs.

5. In case of recognition or mutual recognition of national occupational skills certificates between Vietnam and a foreign country, national occupational skills certificates of such country are valid in Vietnam and vice versa.

6. The Government shall detail this Article; and specify the competence, conditions, dossiers, order and procedures for issuance, re-issuance or revocation of national occupational skills certificates; and the recognition and mutual recognition of national occupational skills certificates between Vietnam and other countries.

Article 25. National occupational skills assessment organizations

1. National occupational skills assessment organization is a legal person that is issued a national occupational skills assessment operation certificate by a competent state agency when fully satisfying the conditions on physical foundations, equipment, assessors and other staffs.

2. National occupational skills assessment organizations that collect national occupational skills assessment service charges shall themselves set and post service charge rates in accordance with the law on price.

3. Occupational skills assessment organizations that apply for issuance or re-issuance of operation certificates shall pay a fee in accordance with the law on charges and fees, except cases requiring issuance or re-issuance of certificates due to the fault of competent agencies.

4. The Government shall detail this Article; and specify dossiers, order and procedures for issuance of national occupational skills assessment operation certificates.

Article 26. Occupations and jobs requiring national occupational skills certificates

1. Workers who perform occupations or jobs that directly affect the safety and health of themselves or of the community must possess national occupational skills certificates.

2. The Government shall promulgate a list of occupations and jobs requiring national occupational skills certificates.

Chapter VI

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

Article 27. Employment services and employment service organizations

1. Employment services include employment counseling and job placement; supply and recommendation of workers for employers; and collection, analysis, storage and provision of labor market information.

2. Employment service organizations include public employment service organizations and employment service enterprises.

3. Employment service organizations that are qualified for conducting e-transactions in the field of employment services may conduct e-transactions with employees and employers in accordance with this Law and the law on e-transactions.

4. Employment service activities through e-commerce methods may only be carried out by enterprises that possess employment service operation licenses when satisfying the conditions specified by the law on e-commerce.

5. The Government shall specify conditions for establishment, organization and operation of public employment service organizations.

Article 28. Employment service enterprises

1. Employment service enterprise is an enterprise established and operating in accordance with the law on enterprises and issued an employment service operation license by a competent state agency.

2. An enterprise shall be issued an employment service operation license when meeting the conditions on physical foundations and personnel up to the requirements for employment service activities, and having made deposits, and must maintain such conditions throughout the course of operation.

3. Employment service enterprises may establish their branches when such branches have physical foundations meeting requirements for employment service activities, and shall notify thereof to specialized agencies in charge of employment under provincial-level People’s Committees of localities where their head offices are located before carrying out employment service activities.

4. Employment service enterprises shall themselves set and post employment service charge rates in accordance with the law on price.

5. The Government shall detail Clauses 2 and 3 of this Article; set the model employment service operation license, and specify dossiers, order and procedures for issuance, re-issuance, extension or revocation of employment service operation licenses.

Chapter VII

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

Section 1

PRINCIPLES, PARTICIPANTS AND BENEFITS OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

Article 29. Principles of unemployment insurance

1. Ensuring risk sharing among unemployment insurance participants.

2. Unemployment insurance premium levels shall be calculated on the basis of monthly salaries of workers.

3. Unemployment insurance benefit levels shall be calculated on the basis of levels and duration of payment of unemployment insurance premiums.

4. Unemployment insurance shall be implemented in a simple, easy and convenient manner, promptly and adequately ensuring the interests of unemployment insurance participants.

5. The Unemployment Insurance Fund shall be managed in a centralized, uniform, public and transparent manner; and shall be used for proper purposes, ensuring its safety and growth and being protected by the State.

Article 30. Unemployment insurance benefits

1. Unemployment insurance benefits include:

a/ Employment counseling and job placement;

b/ Support for workers’ participation in the training and improvement of occupational qualifications and skills;

c/ Unemployment allowance;

d/ Support for employers’ provision of training and further training for improvement of occupational qualifications and skills to maintain workers’ employment.

2. In case of economic crisis or recession, disaster, fire, enemy sabotage or dangerous epidemic, based on the actual situation and the balance of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the Government shall provide the reduction of payable unemployment insurance premiums and the provision of support in cash or in other forms.

Article 31. Unemployment insurance participants

1. Workers obliged to participate in unemployment insurance include:

a/ Persons who work under labor contracts of an indefinite term or labor contracts of a term of full 1 month or more, including the case in which employees and their employers reach agreement on other titles of labor contracts, which have contents stating paid jobs, salaries, and one contracting party’s management, administration and supervision;

b/ The workers specified at Point a of this Clause who work on a part-time basis and receive a monthly salary equal to or higher than the lowest salary level serving as a basis for payment of compulsory social insurance premiums in accordance with the Law on Social Insurance;

c/ Persons who work under working contracts;

d/ Corporate managers, supervisors or representatives of capital contributions of enterprises as specified by law; members of Boards of Directors, Chief Executive Officers, members of Supervisory Boards or supervisors, or other elected managerial title holders of cooperatives or unions of cooperatives as specified by the Law on Cooperatives who are salaried.

In case an employee concurrently falls into more than one category of unemployment insurance participants as specified in this Clause, he/she and his/her employer shall participate in unemployment insurance concurrently with compulsory social insurance.

2. The workers specified in Clause 1 of this Article who currently receive pension, social insurance allowance or monthly allowance in accordance with the Government’s regulations or who are eligible for receiving pension; workers who are working under probation contracts in accordance with the labor law; and domestic workers are not obliged to participate in unemployment insurance.

3. Employers obliged to participate in unemployment insurance include state agencies, public non-business units; agencies, units and enterprises of the People’s Army and the People’s Public Security forces and cipher organizations; political organizations, socio-political organizations, socio-political-professional organizations, socio-professional organizations and other social organizations; foreign agencies and organizations and international organizations operating in Vietnam’s territory; enterprises, cooperative groups, cooperatives, unions of cooperatives, business households, and other organizations and individuals that hire or employ workers under Clause 1 of this Article.

4. Based on the Government's proposal, the National Assembly Standing Committee shall decide on participation in unemployment insurance by subjects other than those specified in Clause 1 of this Article who are regularly employed and earn stable income as suitable to the socio-economic development conditions in each period.

Section 2

PARTICIPATION IN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND PAYMENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PREMIUMS

Article 32. Participation in unemployment insurance

1. The determination of unemployment insurance participants, the registration for participation in unemployment insurance, and the modification of information declared for registration for participation in unemployment insurance shall be carried out concurrently with the determination of compulsory social insurance participants, the registration for participation in compulsory social insurance, and the modification of information declared for registration for participation in compulsory social insurance in accordance with the law on social insurance.

2. The participation in unemployment insurance, the payment of unemployment insurance premiums and the enjoyment of unemployment insurance benefits shall be recorded in social insurance books in accordance with the Law on Social Insurance, serving as a basis for settlement of unemployment insurance benefits in accordance with this Law.

Article 33. Payment of unemployment insurance premiums

1. Levels of, and the responsibility to pay, unemployment insurance premiums are specified as follows:

a/ Employees shall pay unemployment insurance premiums equaling up to 1% of their monthly salaries;

b/ Employers shall pay unemployment insurance premiums equaling up to 1% of the monthly salary fund for employees currently participating in unemployment insurance;

c/ The State shall provide a support equaling up to 1% of the monthly salary fund used as a basis for paying unemployment insurance premiums for employees currently participating in unemployment insurance and receiving salaries from the central budget.

2. Monthly, employers shall pay unemployment insurance premiums at the level specified at Point b, Clause 1 of this Article and make deductions from salary of each employee at the level specified at Point a, Clause 1 of this Article for simultaneous payment to the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

For the employees specified at Point a, Clause 1, Article 31 of this Law who receive product-based salaries or presumptive salaries at enterprises, cooperative groups, cooperatives, unions of cooperatives, or business households engaged in the field of agriculture, forestry, fisheries or salt making, employers shall make registration with social security agencies and pay unemployment insurance premiums on a monthly, quarterly or biannual basis. The payment deadline is the last day of the month following the payment cycle.

3. The time of payment of unemployment insurance premiums by employers and employees is the time of payment of compulsory social insurance premiums.

4. Employees who do not receive salaries for 14 working days or more in a month are not obliged to pay unemployment insurance premiums for that month.

5. Employers shall fully pay unemployment insurance premiums. The handling of acts of delaying and evading the payment of unemployment insurance premiums must comply with the Law on Social Insurance.

6. Employers are entitled to reduction of unemployment insurance premiums payable for their employees who are people with disabilities for no more than 12 months from the date of recruitment and employment of people with disabilities.

7. Employers shall fully pay unemployment insurance premiums for their employees under regulations upon the termination of labor contracts or working contracts or upon workers’ termination of the job performance in order to promptly settle unemployment insurance benefits for employees.

In case employers fail to fully pay unemployment insurance premiums for their employees, they shall pay money amounts equivalent to unemployment insurance benefits which employees are entitled to in accordance with law.

8. The State shall transfer financial support from the state budget into the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

9. The Government shall detail Clauses 1, 6, 7 and 8 of this Article.

Article 34. Bases for payment of unemployment insurance premiums

1. Salaries used as a basis for payment of unemployment insurance premiums:

a/ For employees who are entitled to the State-prescribed salary regime, salaries used as a basis for payment of unemployment insurance premiums are monthly salaries based on their position, title, rank, grade and position-based allowance, extra-scale seniority allowance, occupational seniority allowance and reserved salary difference coefficient (if any);

b/ For employees who are entitled to the salary regime decided by their employers, salaries used as a basis for payment of unemployment insurance premiums are monthly salaries, including job-based or title-based salaries, salary-based allowance and other supplementary amounts as agreed upon to be paid on a regular and stable basis in each period of salary payment.

In case an employee who still receives a monthly salary equal to or higher than the lowest salary level used as a basis for payment of compulsory social insurance premiums even after he/she ceases working, his/her unemployment insurance premiums shall be paid based on the salary he/she receives during the work cessation period.

2. The highest salary level used as a basis for payment of unemployment insurance premiums is equal to 20 times the region-based monthly minimum salary level announced by the Government at the time of payment of unemployment insurance premiums.

3. For employees  currently participating in unemployment insurance who are temporarily detained or suspended from work, they and their employers shall temporarily stop paying unemployment insurance premiums. In case workers are entitled to retroactively receive their full salaries, they and their employers shall resume paying unemployment insurance premiums payable for the temporary detention or work suspension period concurrently with the payment of compulsory social insurance premiums.

4. The retroactive collection and payment of unemployment insurance premiums shall be carried out concurrently with the retroactive collection and payment of compulsory social insurance premiums in accordance with the law on social insurance.

5. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 35. Period of payment of unemployment insurance premiums

1. The period of payment of unemployment insurance premiums for considering a worker’s receipt of unemployment insurance benefits is the total period of payment of unemployment insurance premiums counted to the time the worker terminates his/her labor contract or working contract or ceases working in accordance with law while he/she has not yet received any unemployment allowance.

2. After a worker stops receiving unemployment allowance, the period of subsequent payment of unemployment insurance premiums will be re-counted, except cases in which the worker is entitled to premium reservation as specified in Clauses 5 and 6, Article 41 of this Law.

3. The period of payment of unemployment insurance premiums by a worker is not counted for him/her to receive job loss allowance or severance pay in accordance with the labor law and the law on public employees.

4. The Government shall provide regulations on the period of payment of unemployment insurance premiums for which a worker has not yet received unemployment allowance.

Section 3

EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING, JOB REPLACEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR WORKERS TO PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING AND IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR OCCUPATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Article 36. Employment counseling and job placement

1. The workers specified in Clause 1, Article 31 of this Law who currently pay unemployment insurance premiums, have their labor contracts or working contracts terminated or cease working, and wish to seek employment shall be provided with employment counseling and job placement.

2. The Government shall provide regulations on employment counseling and job placement.

Article 37. Support for workers to participate in training and improvement of their occupational qualifications and skills

1. Workers who currently receive unemployment allowance are entitled to support for training and improvement of their occupational qualifications and skills.

2. If not falling into the case specified in Clause 1 of this Article, a worker must fully satisfy the following conditions in order to receive the support:

a/ Being among those specified at Point a, Clause 1, Article 38 of this Law;

b/ Having submitted a dossier of request for support for training and improvement of occupational qualifications and skills within 12 months from the date of termination of the labor contract or working contract or from the date of work cessation;

c/ Within 10 working days from the date of submission of a complete dossier of request for support for training and improvement of occupational qualifications and skills, being identified as not falling into a case in which he/she is employed and obliged to participate in compulsory social insurance in accordance with the Law on Social Insurance, or performs military service or service in the People’s Public Security forces or standing militia, or attends a study course longer than 12 months or serves a decision on application of the measure of consignment into a compulsory education institution or compulsory drug rehabilitation facility, or is temporarily detained or serves an imprisonment sentence or goes abroad for settlement or is dead;

d/ Having paid unemployment insurance premiums for full 9 months or more within 36 months before the date of termination of the labor contract or working contract or before the date of work cessation.

3. The period of support for training and improvement of occupational qualifications and skills depends on the duration of a training course but must not exceed 6 months.

4. Support for training and improvement of occupational qualifications and skills covers:

a/ Tuition fee;

b/ Expenses for meals of workers during the period of participation in the training and improvement of occupational qualifications and skills.

5. The Government shall detail this Article; and specify dossiers, order and procedures for provision of support for workers to participate in training and improvement of occupational qualifications and skills.

Section 4

UNEMPLOYMENT ALLOWANCE

Article 38. Conditions for being entitled to unemployment allowance

1. A worker specified in Clause 1, Article 31 of this Law who currently pays unemployment insurance premiums will be entitled to unemployment allowance when fully satisfying the following conditions:

a/ Having his/her labor contract or working contract terminated, or having ceased working in accordance with law, and not falling into one of the cases in which workers unilaterally terminate labor contracts in contravention of law as specified by the Labor Code or in which workers retire when qualified for receiving pension.

b/ Having paid unemployment insurance premiums for full 12 months or more within 24 months before the date of termination of the labor contract or working contract or before the date of work cessation in accordance with law.

In case the worker works under a labor contract of a term of between full 1 month and under 12 months, he/she must have paid unemployment insurance premiums for full 12 months or more within 36 months before the date of termination of the labor contract.

c/ Having submitted a complete dossier for receipt of unemployment allowance within 3 months from the date of termination of the labor contract or working contract or from the date of work cessation.

d/ Within 10 working days from the date of submission of a complete dossier for receipt of unemployment allowance, being identified as not falling into a case in which he/she is employed and obliged to participate in compulsory social insurance in accordance with the Law on Social Insurance, or performs military service or service in the People’s Public Security forces or standing militia, or attends a study course longer than 12 months, or serves a decision on application of the measure of consignment into a compulsory education institution or compulsory drug rehabilitation facility, or is temporarily detained or serves an imprisonment sentence or goes abroad for settlement or is dead.

2. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 39. Levels, duration and time of, and dossiers, order and procedures for, enjoyment of unemployment allowance

1. The monthly unemployment allowance level is equal to 60% of the average monthly salary used for payment of unemployment insurance premiums of the last 6 months before the date of termination of the labor contract or working contract or before the date of work cessation for which unemployment insurance premiums have been paid but must not exceed 5 times the region-based monthly minimum salary level announced by the Government and applied in the last month of payment of unemployment insurance premiums.

2. The duration of enjoyment of unemployment allowance shall be calculated based on the number of months of payment of unemployment insurance premiums. This duration is 3 months if the period of payment of unemployment insurance premiums is between full 12 months and full 36 months, which is added with 1 month for each additional payment period of full 12 months, but must not exceed 12 months.

3. The time of enjoyment of unemployment allowance is the 11^th working day from the date of submission of a complete dossier for enjoyment of unemployment allowance.

4. Workers currently on unemployment allowance are entitled to health insurance benefits in accordance with the law on health insurance, including the period of suspension from enjoying unemployment allowance specified in Clause 2, Article 41 of this Law. Social security agencies shall pay health insurance premiums for workers currently on unemployment allowance from the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

5. The Government shall detail Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article; and specify dossiers, order and procedures for workers to receive unemployment allowance.

Article 40. Responsibility of workers to notify their employment seeking

1. While on unemployment allowance, on a monthly basis, a worker shall notify his/her employment seeking to the public employment service organization in the locality where he/she currently receives unemployment allowance.

2. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 41. Change of place of receipt, suspension, resumption, termination or cancellation of enjoyment of unemployment allowance

1. While on unemployment allowance, workers may change their places of receipt of unemployment allowance when they so wish.

2. Workers currently on unemployment allowance will be suspended from receiving such allowance if they fail to notify their employment seeking on a monthly basis under Article 40 of this Law.

Workers are not entitled to receive unemployment allowance during the period of suspension from enjoying unemployment allowance and such period is not reserved.

3. Workers who are suspended from enjoying unemployment allowance may continue receiving such allowance if the enjoyment period has not yet expired and they notify their employment seeking on a monthly basis under Article 40 of this Law.

4. A worker currently on unemployment allowance will have his/her enjoyment of unemployment allowance terminated in one of the following cases:

a/ He/she is employed and obliged to participate in compulsory social insurance in accordance with the Law on Social Insurance;

b/ He/she performs military service or service in the People’s Public Security forces or standing militia;

c/ He/she receives monthly pension;

d/ He/she has twice refused without a plausible reason to take up the job placed by the public employment service organization in the locality where he/she currently receives unemployment allowance;

dd/ He/she fails to notify his/her employment seeking on a monthly basis under Article 40 of this Law for 3 consecutive months;

e/ He/she goes abroad for settlement;

g/ He/she attends a study course longer than 12 months;

h/ He/she is administratively sanctioned for a violation of the law on unemployment insurance;

i/ He/she dies;

k/ He/she serves a decision on application of the measure of consignment to a compulsory education institution or compulsory drug rehabilitation facility;

l/ He/she is declared missing by a court;

m/ He/she is temporarily detained or serves an imprisonment sentence;

n/ He/she so wishes.

5. Workers who have their enjoyment of unemployment allowance terminated in the cases specified at Points a, b, g, k, l, m and n, Clause 4 of this Article may have the period of payment of unemployment insurance premiums reserved as a basis for calculation of the subsequent period of enjoyment of unemployment allowance, except the cases of failure to notify their status as specified at Points a, b, g, k, l, m and n, Clause 4 of this Article.

6. The Government shall detail this Article; and specify cases of cancellation of enjoyment of unemployment insurance benefits, and period of payment of unemployment insurance premiums that is reserved upon the termination of enjoyment of unemployment allowance.

Section 5

SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND FURTHER TRAINING FOR IMPROVEMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS FOR EMPLOYMENT MAINTENANCE FOR EMPLOYEES

Article 42. Support for employers to provide training and further training for improvement of occupational qualifications and skills for employment maintenance for employees participating in unemployment insurance

1. Employers will be entitled to support in case the following events affect or are likely to affect the employment of a large number of employees participating in unemployment insurance:

a/ A structural or technological change or an economic reason as specified in the Labor Code;

b/ A disaster, fire, enemy sabotage or dangerous epidemic;

c/ A competent state agency’s decision on relocation or narrowing of the production or business location;

d/ Other cases as specified by the Government.

2. An employer will be entitled to support when fully satisfying the following conditions:

a/ Having paid unemployment insurance premiums for full 12 months or more within 24 months prior to the time of applying for support;

b/ Having plans on training and further training for improvement of occupational qualifications and skills for employment maintenance.

3. The period of support for training and further training for improvement of occupational qualifications and skills for employment maintenance for employees depends on the duration of a training course but must not exceed 6 months.

4. The Government shall detail this Article; and specify levels, dossiers, order and procedures for provision of support to employers to provide training and further training for improvement of occupational qualifications and skills for employment maintenance for employees.

Section 6

THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND

Article 43. The Unemployment Insurance Fund

1. The Unemployment Insurance Fund is a financial fund independent from the state budget; and is subject to cost-accounting, accounting, formulation of financial statements, and internal audit in accordance with the law on accounting and other relevant laws.

2. Once every 3 years, the State Audit Office of Vietnam shall audit the Unemployment Insurance Fund and its investment activities, and report audit results to the National Assembly. Upon request of the National Assembly, the National Assembly Standing Committee or the Government, the Unemployment Insurance Fund shall be audited on an unscheduled basis.

Article 44. Sources forming the Unemployment Insurance Fund

1. Contributions and supports as specified in Clause 1, Article 33 of this Law.

2. Profits from the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s investment activities.

3. Other lawful revenues as specified by law.

Article 45. Use of the Unemployment Insurance Fund

1. Payment of unemployment insurance benefits.

2. Provision of support in cash or in other forms as specified in Clause 2, Article 30 of this Law.

3. Payment of health insurance premiums for unemployment allowance beneficiaries.

4. Payment of expenses for unemployment insurance organization and operations.

5. Investment for the Fund’s preservation and growth.

Article 46. Expenses for unemployment insurance organization and operations

1. Expenses for unemployment insurance organization and operations cover:

a/ Public communication about, dissemination of, and answering of inquiries about, and provision of counseling on, unemployment insurance policies and laws; and professional training and further training in unemployment insurance;

b/ Administrative reform related to unemployment insurance; development and management of unemployment insurance participants and beneficiaries;

c/ Investment in, upgrading, renovation, expansion, maintenance and repair of assets, and rent and procurement of assets, goods and services related to unemployment insurance management and operations;

d/ Organization of the collection of unemployment insurance premiums, settlement and payment of unemployment insurance benefits, and apparatus operation of agencies implementing unemployment insurance policies.

2. Levels of expenses for unemployment insurance organization and operations shall be calculated on the basis of percentage of unemployment insurance revenue and expenditure estimates, excluding expenses used for payment of health insurance premiums for unemployment allowance beneficiaries and deducted from the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

3. Once every 3 years, the Government shall report on levels of expenses for unemployment insurance organization and operations together with expenses for social insurance organization and operations to the National Assembly Standing Committee for decision.

4. The State Audit Office of Vietnam shall annually audit reports on account-finalization of expenses for unemployment insurance organization and operations.

5. The Government shall detail Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article.

Article 47. Management of investment activities of the Unemployment Insurance Fund

1. The Unemployment Insurance Fund may make investment and practice independent cost-accounting.

2. Investment activities of the Unemployment Insurance Fund must ensure safety, sustainability and efficiency; and are subject to risk control and management and deduction of risk provisions.

3. The Government shall provide regulations on investment activities of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the control and management of its investment risks, and the deduction and use of its risk provisions.

Article 48. Responsibilities of the Government for unemployment insurance

1. To decide on or propose competent authorities to decide on handling measures or supportive measures in case of necessity to protect unemployment insurance-related legitimate rights and interests of employees and employers.

2. To annually report to the National Assembly on the implementation of unemployment insurance policies and regimes, and the management and use of the Unemployment Insurance Fund in reports on the implementation of social insurance policies and regimes and the management and use of the Social Insurance Fund under regulations.

3. To provide the account-finalization of expenses for unemployment insurance organization and operations and assign state management agencies to review, appraise and approve such final accounts.

4. To define the rights and responsibilities of related agencies, organizations and individuals in the implementation of unemployment insurance.

Section 7

COMPLAINTS AND DENUNCIATIONS ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

Article 49. The right to file complaints about unemployment insurance 

Agencies, organizations and individuals may request competent agencies, organizations and individuals to review the latter’s decisions and acts when having grounds to believe that such decisions and acts contravene the law on unemployment insurance and infringe upon the former’s lawful rights and interests.

Article 50. Filing and settlement of complaints about unemployment insurance-related administrative decisions and administrative acts; and decisions and acts in the inspection of unemployment insurance

1. The filing and settlement of complaints about unemployment insurance-related administrative decisions and administrative acts must comply with the law on complaints, except the case specified in Clause 2 of this Article.

2. The filing and settlement of complaints about administrative decisions, administrative acts and other decisions and acts in the inspection of unemployment insurance must comply with the law on inspection.

Article 51. Filing and settlement of complaints about, and initiation of lawsuits against, unemployment insurance-related decisions and acts

1. Unemployment insurance-related decision or act is a decision or an act of a social security agency, a public employment service organization, or a competent person in such social security agency or public employment service organization to perform or not to perform its/his/her responsibilities in accordance with the law on unemployment insurance.

2. Filing of a complaint about an unemployment insurance-related decision or act:

a/ When having grounds to believe that an unemployment insurance-related decision or act is unlawful and infringes upon his/her lawful rights and interests, the complainant may file the first-time complaint to the social security agency or public employment service organization that employs the person issuing/taking such decision or act or initiate a lawsuit at court in accordance with law.

b/ In case the complainant disagrees with results of the first-time complaint settlement by the social security agency or his/her complaint remains unsettled upon the expiration of the required time limit, he/she may file a second-time complaint to the head of the immediate superior agency or initiate a lawsuit at court in accordance with law.

In case the complainant disagrees with results of the first-time complaint settlement by the public employment service organization or his/her complaint remains unsettled upon the expiration of the required time limit, he/she may file a second-time complaint to the head of the specialized agency in charge of employment of the provincial-level People’s Committee or initiate a lawsuit at court in accordance with law.

c/ In case the complainant disagrees with results of the second-time complaint settlement or his/her complaint remains unsettled upon the expiration of the required time limit, he/she may initiate a lawsuit at court in accordance with law.

3. Competence to settle complaints about unemployment insurance-related decisions and acts of social security agencies and public employment service organizations:

a/ The head of a social security agency or public employment service organization is competent to settle first-time complaints about unemployment insurance-related decisions and acts of his/her own or of competent persons under his/her management;

b/ The head of the immediate superior agency of the social security agency is competent to settle second-time complaints about unemployment insurance-related decisions and acts in case the first-time complaints have been settled by the head of such social security agency, or in case the first-time complaints remain unsettled though the time limit for settlement has expired;

c/ The head of the specialized agency in charge of employment of the provincial-level People’s Committee is competent to settle second-time complaints about unemployment insurance-related decisions and acts in case the first-time complaints have been settled by the head of the public employment service organization, or in case the first-time complaints remain unsettled though the time limit for settlement has expired.

4. The statute of limitations for filing unemployment insurance-related complaints, and the order and procedures for settlement thereof must comply with the law on complaints.

Article 52. Filing and settlement of unemployment insurance-related denunciations

1. The filing and settlement of denunciations against illegal acts in the performance of unemployment insurance-related tasks and official duties and illegal acts concerning state management in the field of unemployment insurance must comply with the law on denunciations.

2. Social security agencies and public employment service organizations shall settle denunciations against illegal acts concerning the observance of the law on unemployment insurance.

3. The order and procedures for filing and settlement of denunciations against illegal acts specified in Clause 2 of this Article must comply with the law on denunciations.

Chapter VIII

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 53. To amend and supplement Law No. 97/2015/QH13 on Charges and Fees, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Law No. 09/2017/QH14, Law No. 23/2018/QH14, Law No. 72/2020/QH14, Law No. 16/2023/QH15, Law No. 20/2023/QH15, Law No. 24/2023/QH15, Law No. 33/2024/QH15, and Law No. 35/2024/QH15

To add ordinal numbers 36 and 37 below ordinal number 35 in Section III, Part B of Appendix 01 on the List of charges and fees, as follows:

Article 54. Effect

1. This Law takes effect on January 1, 2026.

2. Law No. 38/2013/QH13 on Employment, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Law No. 41/2024/QH15, ceases to be effective on the effective date of this Law, except the cases specified in Clauses 1, 2 and 3, Article 55 of this Law.

Article 55. Transitional provisions

1. The source of the National Employment Fund shall be converted into the source of the central budget funds to be allocated to the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies for provision of employment creation loans under the Government’s regulations.

2. Borrowers of loans from the National Employment Fund and other concessional credit sources as specified in Law No. 38/2013/QH13 on Employment, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Law No. 41/2024/QH15, that have signed credit contracts with the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies before the effective date of this Law, shall continue performing the signed contracts until completion.

3. Occupational skills assessment organizations that have been issued national occupational skills assessment operation certificates before the effective date of this Law may continue to operate under such certificates.

4. Employees and employers that have submitted dossiers of application for enjoyment of unemployment insurance benefits before the effective date of this Law but have yet to obtain decisions on enjoyment of unemployment insurance benefits shall comply with this Law.-

This Law was passed on June 16, 2025, by the 15^th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at its 9^th session.

Chairman of the National Assembly
TRAN THANH MAN