Having children for more than 1 year and still not entitled to maternity benefits
Talking to a reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper on March 22, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Loan - formerly a worker at Vinh Thong Company - said that she has been working at the company since February 2017. In March 2025, when she came to the hospital to give birth, she presented her health insurance card but was not paid hospital fees because the company had not fully paid social insurance and health insurance.
At that time, I called the HR staff and was instructed to pay the hospital fees myself, then the company would pay back. However, after giving birth, I submitted an invoice for hospital fees of more than 25 million VND to the company, but it has not been refunded yet," Ms. Loan recounted.
Not only that, she was also not paid a 7-month maternity allowance by the social insurance agency (because she gave birth to twins).
Due to twins, and premature births, my child is still weak, so I have to stay at home to take care of the child. The whole family of 6 people, including husband and wife, 3 young children (one child is in 6th grade) and an elderly mother, only depends on my husband's income. My husband's job is precarious, the most is about 10 million VND per month, the least is only 7 million VND per month, while the rent, electricity and water are nearly 4 million VND. Life is very difficult, so I hope the company will soon pay enough social insurance to enjoy benefits according to regulations," Ms. Loan said indignantly.
Similarly, Ms. Duong Thi Mong Ngoc - formerly a chain manager of Vinh Thong Company - said that because the company was late in paying social insurance from June 2024 to July 2025, when she gave birth in December 2024, she suffered many losses.
Accordingly, she had to pay more than 13 million VND in hospital fees herself and has not yet been refunded by the company, even though she has submitted hospital fees invoices. In addition, because the company does not pay social insurance, she is also not entitled to maternity benefits, causing many difficulties in life.
Ms. Ngoc recounted that because of difficult circumstances, she had to send her child (now 14 months old) back to her hometown for her paternal grandparents to take care of since he was only 6 months old. The couple continued to go to Ho Chi Minh City to rent a house and work seasonally. Each month, her income, including overtime, is only more than 8 million VND to cover living expenses.
Delayed payment of insurance types of more than 16.36 billion VND
As Lao Dong Newspaper has reported, 137 workers of Vinh Thong Company have authorized trade union officials under the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation to sue the enterprise, requesting payment of nearly 3.1 billion VND in salary and social insurance contributions with an amount of nearly 4.8 billion VND.
Mr. Pham Van Hien - Deputy Director of the Legal Consulting Center of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation - said that to date, the company still owes salaries to some workers with an amount of about 500 million VND.
Regarding social insurance, according to judgments and decisions recognizing the agreement of the parties of the District 9 Court (HCMC), at the latest by the end of February 2026, Vinh Thong Company must complete the payment of social insurance for employees. However, so far, the enterprise has not implemented it.
Recently, 14 more workers of the company continued to authorize the Legal Consulting Center of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation to sue. Among these, many female workers gave birth but did not receive maternity benefits because the company did not pay enough social insurance, and many people are facing difficulties in life.
According to Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance, by February 2026, Vinh Thong Company was late in paying social insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance and occupational accident and disease insurance with a total amount of more than 16.36 billion VND.
