The host: Sir and friends, after 1 hour and 30 minutes of discussion with many open and in-depth opinions with the two guests, we have clearly analyzed issues related to the revised Employment Law. We hope that the content of the seminar has provided useful information for employees and businesses, and at the same time, partly answered questions and concerns of employees and businesses related to employment policies, unemployment insurance, job support, etc. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong and Mr. Le Quang Trung for attending the seminar. Thank you to the audience for watching. The talk show of Lao Dong newspaper would like to stop here. See you again in the next programs.
Unemployment insurance is relatively widespread, covering social security
Providing the program: Are the contents of vocational training support expanded in the new Law really satisfying and attractive enough to attract unemployed workers to learn a trade?
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong: Our wish is that the support policy will help workers participate in vocational training so that both businesses and society can benefit.
However, to change the behavior of workers, there must be a synchronous and specific solution. In which, we must change behavior, awareness, and culture. Enterprises must invest in better values for job positions, not force/coerce policy implementation.
We also have to evaluate the value of vocational training for workers, see if the training creates better value or not to make appropriate adjustments.
Thus, State policies must become the inherent needs of businesses and workers.
In fact, many businesses are currently participating in training for workers, so is the training certified? Then the business model of combining schools to train workers will also develop... How to institutionalize contributions and recognize contributions of enterprises is to motivate enterprises to participate in training for workers.
We also have to expand the concept of " jobs searches", develop them into an online, in-person, macro, and comprehensive system... so that this agency can participate in more training for workers.
Finally, it is necessary to create an ecosystem for human resource development, with the participation of the Government, training institutions, businesses and workers.
Mr. Le Quang Trung: Receiving additional food allowances is an interest and an effort to support the policy for unemployed people. When calculating on the basis of the unemployment fund balance, how to ensure the fund's safety. We must move towards the motto of going together in the vocational training process including employers, employees and vocational training centers. In particular, organizing implementation between units and at the same time localities issuing vocational training programs will be effective and beneficial for workers.
Providing: Clause 1, Article 38 of the 2025 Law on Employment stipulates 4 conditions for receiving unemployment benefits, in which the conditions for payment period are as follows:
- Having paid unemployment insurance for 12 months or more within 24 months before the contract is terminated...
- In case the employee works under a labor contract with a term of 1 month to less than 12 months, he/she must pay for 12 months or more within 36 months before terminating the contract...
Previously, Point b, Clause 1, Article 49 of the 2013 Law on Employment stipulated:
Having paid unemployment insurance for 12 months or more within 24 months before the contract is terminated...
Thus, the 2013 Law on Employment does not distinguish between the type of contract or the time of consideration for short-term labor contracts, leading to unclear application to employees with a term of 1-3 months.
Many workers are excited to participate in unemployment insurance even though it is only a 1-month labor contract. Many experts also assess that their social security nets are more open. What is your opinion?
Mr. Le Quang Trung: This is an important and meaningful regulation for workers, especially in groups that often lose or quit their jobs (unstable groups). Therefore, when guiding the implementation of the policy, it is necessary to loosen it to suit the nature of this group. Still ensuring the regime of "paid - received", regardless of long-term or short-term contributions.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong: The 2025 Law on Employment expands the number of subjects with a 1-month labor contract to also participate in unemployment insurance. This is a significant group, the new regulation not only helps with social security but also creates trust among workers in the policy.
The new law stipulates flexible payment time, not necessarily having to pay continuously... In the context of unstable employment and income, business operations also face many difficulties... expanded conditions to increase participation capacity help the policy spread widely in life.
Most importantly, the feasibility will increase the confidence of employees and businesses in the sustainability of the policy.
Providing the program: Ladies and gentlemen, According to Clause 1, Article 30 of the 2025 Law on Employment, unemployment insurance regimes include:
- Consulting, job introduction;
- Support workers to participate in training and improve their vocational skills;
- Unemployment benefits;
- Support employers in training, fostering, and improving vocational skills to maintain jobs for workers.
In addition, Clause 2, Article 30 adds a flexible mechanism in special situations:
In case of crisis, economic recession, natural disaster, fire, enemy disaster or dangerous epidemic... The Government stipulates the reduction of unemployment insurance payment, cash support or other support.
Meanwhile, in Article 42 of the 2013 Law on Employment (No. 38/2013/QH13), there are only 3 unemployment insurance regimes, including:
- Unemployment benefits;
- Supporting job consultation and introduction;
- Vocational training support.
The 2013 Law on Employment does not have a support regime for employers as the new law, nor does it have clear regulations on support in emergency situations such as crises, natural disasters, and epidemics.
How do Mr. Trung and Ms. Lan Huong evaluate these new points, sir?
Mr. Le Quang Trung: The unemployment insurance policy has changed quite a lot.
My most concern is the issue of expanding the target audience, expanding coverage, that is, those who benefit from this policy so that businesses can share with workers...
The amendment of unemployment insurance has overcome the points that we have previously worried about, which many subjects have not been able to participate in, the amendment is more positive and brings many people to benefit from this policy.
I hope that in the coming time, there will be specific and clear instructions for easy implementation. For the group of workers who are eligible to participate in unemployment insurance, it is implemented according to the 3 easy motto: Easy to access, easy to understand and easy to implement.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong: I want to look at some issues that I think are still uncertain at present, and will be much clearer in the future.
The 2025 Law on Employment was born in the context of rapid economic development, many new industries, new economic sectors, changing labor relations... The group of workers on technology platforms, work associated with technology... has not yet appeared, while they will be potential labor areas, a large segment of the labor market but the policy has not yet touched them.
The synchronization is not yet high. The group participating in voluntary social insurance has not been mentioned and this group of subjects has not been synchronized in the unemployment insurance policy. In the future, policies must be consolidated in the context of health insurance accounting for 95% of the population and compulsory social insurance accounting for about 35% of the population, so policies should be synchronized to develop human resources and ensure social security.
We can also do more with the story of vocational training. Vocational training policies still follow some groups of subjects, while the need for vocational training is the need of the development process. Both studying and working and training are important needs. The vocational training policy in unemployment insurance is correct, but it must be the main pillar, not the unemployment subsidy policy.
Supporting workers to learn a trade is not only to support workers themselves but also to support businesses and the labor market. Therefore, more resources must be spent on this content.
The host of the seminar: The 2013 Law on Employment does not have a support regime for employers as the new law, nor does it have clear regulations on support in emergency situations such as crises, natural disasters, and epidemics.
How do Mr. Trung and Ms. Lan Huong evaluate these new points, sir?
Mr. Le Quang Trung: These are new points through the implementation of the 2013 Employment Law and through the COVID-19 period. This has resolved arising situations and changed them unpredictably.
This is the legal basis for implementing support for businesses in the recent past.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong: The COVID-19 epidemic helps us have many lessons related to supporting labor, businesses and using financial resources.
The social security that we design (working policies, unemployment insurance, etc.) is currently too thin. The majority of informal workers are outside the policy. In that context, without reserves and support policies, it would be very confusing.
When there are difficulties, the Government is ready to expand the support subjects, even strongly supporting businesses because supporting businesses is labor support, social support and creating a solid pillar for the labor market.
In financial sources related to the labor market, unemployment insurance means a long-term policy, not just related to unemployed people.
The 2025 Law on Employment has expanded to support businesses more, reducing their burden when encountering incidents.
We try to expand the definition of businesses to support them more. Pay more attention to small and medium-sized enterprises, enterprises with specific labor groups.
The host of the Seminar: The revised Law on Employment is very interested in businesses and employers. For example, businesses are supported with labor training if they encounter difficulties due to natural disasters and epidemics; are reduced in unemployment insurance contributions for disabled workers. What do guests think about this policy? In reality, many enterprises that do not need to recruit workers are disabled for many reasons, due to concerns about labor productivity, concerns about not having a suitable job... To ensure long-term security, the revised Law on Employment to reduce unemployment insurance contributions for disabled workers, is that incentive enough to encourage workers to increase training, improve skills for workers and pay attention to recruiting workers with disabilities?
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong: The policy for people with disabilities has expanded support to businesses. This is also a pretty good approach.
Currently, after many efforts, the rate of disabled people in Vietnam accounts for about 7-8%. This group participates in the labor market with less than 30%, while other groups can reach 100%. We all understand that everyone has a need for a job, income...
Creating jobs and social security for disabled workers is very difficult. There was a policy requiring businesses to recruit a certain proportion of disabled workers... but it was not feasible. We need intervention policies for disabled workers, support for businesses is important, but the policy is currently quite modest, and there is not much support. Meanwhile, it is not simple for businesses to create jobs for people with disabilities.
We support the policy of supporting businesses more to support workers more. This also has the effect of spreading and spreading economically, spreading the spirit of socialism and humanity, reducing inequality. We hope the Government will provide more support. Currently, only social allowances for people with severe disabilities are focused on. While there are many groups that need support for working areas and market segmentation in the formal labor market.
We have had many policies related to people with disabilities.
Recently, there have been many models of using disabled people to provide vocational training, mobilize disabled people, and work at night for disabled people.
Many businesses recruit workers and meet the requirements
However, for many different reasons, people with disabilities when entering the market officially account for a very low proportion
This is an issue that must have many solutions, both for employers, policies and people with disabilities.
These are new regulations in the 2025 Employment Law to support and care for businesses, in fact support and care for workers. To implement these regulations, there will be specific instructions to implement these contents internally.
I hope the more specific and detailed instructions are, based on assessment and survey to be clearer, the easier it will be to implement.
There needs to be a policy to support businesses through direct channels such as contributions, taxes, premises, facilities... support through activities of state agencies and units (service for jobs, product consumption, state orders, connecting partners, businesses...)
The host of the seminar: Another highly appreciated content in the revised Law on Employment is the group of young people who have completed their military service and are eligible for loans to support employment. Can you please tell us, with this content, how should our specific policies be implemented so that access to co-capital is not too difficult for those with real needs and policies spread in life?
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong: This policy was previously implemented by the Ministry of National Defense.
The survey shows that discharged workers participating in the labor market will bring very high value. The revised Law on Employment includes this content, which is very good.
Currently, young people account for a fairly high proportion in the labor market, and are also the group that absorbs the achievements of the technological revolution, the superiority of technology... When this group is supported with training, we take advantage of the opportunity to help them have new position and strength in the labor market to have the opportunity to become high-quality human resources because they have qualities such as loyalty, passion, discipline... which are very valuable.
I look forward to this expansion, we are talking about a learning society, digital education... Youth is an important group that needs training and support to improve their skills and qualifications.
Today's learning path is also different from lifelong learning thinking. Therefore, I hope to continue this policy, in which, special support should be given to industries and occupations that need young human resources, are well-trained, and have discipline.
In fact, the rate of young people who want to learn a trade according to our survey is not high, the main reasons are not much information, unfavorable policy access, and weak support in resources.
I hope that the implementation process, guiding circulars, and policies should be a pillar in policies to support young people to participate in the labor market. Youth studying is an opportunity to push society up.
The host of the seminar: Ms. Lan Huong, in the context of informal labor accounting for about 60% of the entire labor market, what is the significance of expanding the number of subjects participating in unemployment insurance, ladies?
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong: The great advantage of the revised Law on Employment is that 4 groups of subjects participating in unemployment insurance have been added, thereby creating a wider social security net. This is also a premise to expand social security for this group of subjects.
I think this content also shows the Government's intervention in the labor market. In this case, policy intervention in the labor market helps the market become better, workers feel more secure when there are incidents.
Unemployment insurance expands the scope of coverage to help shift labor from low-yielding areas to high-yielding areas, from simple labor to areas with technical expertise...
In the context of unemployment due to technological restructuring and other factors, the expanded unemployment insurance participants also help workers shift from low value-added areas to high value-added areas.
Finally, the policy also helps us reduce inequality in the labor market. In fact, unemployed workers will have a very difficult time without a support.
If we let disadvantaged workers face difficulties, we will suffer double losses in both social security and social justice.
New points
Guests watch a video clip made by Lao Dong Newspaper (video with analysis of some limitations of the old Employment Law, statements of workers who were previously not eligible for unemployment insurance, Hanoi Employment Service Center's assessment of some shortcomings of the 2013 Employment Law...)
The host of the seminar: Mr. Trung, do you assess the shortcomings of the 2013 Employment Law after watching the clip that we have made?
Mr. Le Quang Trung: This is very valuable information in the policy making process. reality is very vivid, the sea changes rapidly, many new problems appear in reality and in the future, ... the problem is that we need to detect and forecast to have appropriate solutions, especially legal regulations.
Elderly people are trained and have skills and work experience; understand and comply with the law; always desire to work and contribute...the number of elderly people is about 16 million (there are more than 7 million elderly people directly working and producing and doing business, of which more than 50% are elderly people aged 60-69; more than 19,9% of people aged 70-79 are still working, generating income...Many elderly people have been successfully starting a business, affirming their position and role).
The 2025 Law on Employment has Article 13 stipulating support for the elderly in employment, but more importantly, Clause 3 - based on the actual situation, the state will have a policy to solve employment for the elderly.
This is a new regulation of the 2025 Law on Employment that shows concern, recognition and assessment of the employment issue for the elderly in the context of population aging so that they can create jobs and participate in the labor market on their own. This is a real economic and social problem, taking advantage of and exploiting the human resources that the labor market needs for socio-economic development.
We also hope to have specific policies and solutions to support the elderly in creating jobs for themselves or participating in the labor market. These are solutions for us to evaluate, evaluate and improve ourselves; policies to support businesses that hire us.
I myself also want to establish it to provide labor to help my 16.6 family and also want to operate not necessarily for profit, but also need a lot of policy support from state and local management agencies.
The amended Law on Employment was passed by the National Assembly on June 16, 2025, effective from January 1, 2026. With many new points, covering a wider audience, expanding the social security net, the Law is expected to help develop a more modern Vietnamese labor market.
To analyze the new and outstanding points of the revised Law on Employment, Lao Dong Newspaper will work with experts to provide you with a comprehensive view of a law that has a profound impact on life, economy, and society, especially in the period of deep integration and the labor market is being strongly affected by the technological revolution, the AI wave... The exchange guests are Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong - former Director of the Institute of Social Labor Sciences; Mr. Le Quang Trung - former Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Employment.
The program was organized by Lao Dong Newspaper, reported on Lao Dong Electronic Newspaper laodong.vn.
