Giving birth, no more salary, maternity benefits also not received
According to Da Nang City Social Insurance, as of the end of June 2026, the whole city has 2,662 units that are late or evading social insurance (BHXH), health insurance (BHYT), and unemployment insurance (BHTN). The total amount to be collected is more than 232 billion VND, affecting the rights of at least 11,000 workers.
Ms. N.T. H - a worker at Minh Hoang 2 Garment Co., Ltd. in Dien Nam - Dien Ngoc Industrial Park - has been working at the enterprise since 2018. Every month, the amount of social insurance contributions is still shown on the salary scale, so she believes that her rights have been guaranteed.
Only when taking maternity leave in December 2024 and applying for maternity benefits did Ms. H know that the business had owed social insurance for a long time. According to the public list, the debt of Minh Hoang 2 Garment Co., Ltd. has reached more than 10.5 billion VND.
After giving birth, I no longer have a salary, and I have not received maternity benefits either. Every month I have to worry about milk, diapers, medicine and living expenses. My husband does unstable jobs, many times the family has to borrow money from relatives to cover expenses" - Ms. H said.
Since submitting the application, she has contacted the department in charge of the business many times, but the answer is still just to continue waiting for the company to rectify the debt. Up to now, the company has closed but the debt is still missing.
A similar situation happened to Ms. L.T.M, a service staff at Vinacapital Hoi An Tourist Area Co., Ltd. She took maternity leave from April 2024 but has not yet received enough maternity benefits because the social insurance payment process was interrupted. "I have paid social insurance during my working time, just hoping to receive my right benefits" - Ms. M shared.
According to the public list, Vinacapital Hoi An Tourist Area Co., Ltd. has 315 employees and owes social insurance of more than 12.8 billion VND.
Businesses continuously break promises
At Minh Hoang 2 Garment Co., Ltd., the situation of social insurance debt has lasted for many years, although the enterprise has been urged, inspected and fined many times.
Before the Lunar New Year 2025, 251 workers at the company had collectively stopped working because they were not fully paid salaries and bonuses. After that, many workers applied for leave, but regimes related to social insurance were still "suspended" because the business had not remedied the debt.
In working sessions with functional agencies and dialogues with employees, business representatives admitted that the company has temporarily suspended operations, has no revenue and cannot implement the contents of previous commitments.
Regarding the social insurance debt, the enterprise proposed a phased plan, paying about 400 million VND per month to gradually resolve it. However, this commitment has not been implemented to date.
Not only Minh Hoang 2 Garment Co., Ltd., Royal Capital Group Joint Stock Company was fined 150 million VND by the People's Committee of Quang Nam province (old), and at the same time requested to remedy the late payment of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance of 183 workers, with a total amount of more than 7.3 billion VND. However, the enterprise has not fully implemented the remedy request.
Need strong enough sanctions
Recently, the Da Nang City Labor Federation has received dossiers, representing 195 employees of Minh Hoang 2 Garment Co., Ltd. to carry out procedures to sue the enterprise. The content of the lawsuit relates to severance allowance, 2024 bonus and social insurance benefits. Previously, disputes between employees and businesses had been brought to mediation but could not be resolved definitively.
Mr. Nguyen Quy Qui - Deputy Director of Da Nang City Department of Home Affairs - informed that the unit has requested the City Police to inspect and investigate signs of evasion and appropriation of insurance money at enterprises owing social insurance for many years, affecting hundreds of workers.
Functional agencies believe that some businesses evade responsibility, do not comply with sanctioning decisions and lack coordination in resolving workers' rights.
According to Lawyer Nguyen Thanh Tan - Tan Nguyen Law Office, Da Nang, the 2024 Law on Social Insurance stipulates that businesses that are late or evade payment must pay an additional amount equal to 0.03% per day, calculated on the amount and number of days of violation. Depending on the nature and severity, the violation may be administratively sanctioned or prosecuted for criminal liability.
Employers also have to compensate if social insurance participation is incomplete or not timely, causing damage to the legitimate rights and interests of employees.
Sanctions are only effective when strictly implemented. Publicizing lists, inspections or penalties will be difficult enough to deter if businesses procrastinate, dissipate assets or stop operating when they have not fulfilled their obligations. Minh Hoang 2 Garment Co., Ltd. is a case when it has closed down and is selling assets.
