Not allowing female workers to rest for 30 minutes on their "red light" days, fined up to 40 million VND

Legal Consulting Department of Lao Dong Newspaper answers:

Clause 2, Article 26, Decree 283/2026/ND-CP stipulating penalties for administrative violations in the fields of labor, social insurance, and Vietnamese workers going to work abroad under contracts (effective from September 10, 2026) stipulates as follows:

2. A fine of between 10 million VND and 20 million VND shall be imposed on employers for one of the following acts:

d) Not allowing female workers to rest for 30 minutes each day during menstruation unless the two parties have another agreement.

Clause 1, Article 7 of Decree No. 283/2026/ND-CP stipulates the level of fines and principles of application for repeated administrative violations as follows:

1. The penalty level stipulated for administrative violations specified in Chapter II, Chapter III and Chapter IV of this Decree is the penalty level for individuals; except for cases specified in: Article 8; Article 9; Clause 3, Article 10; Clauses 3, 4, 5, 6, Article 19; Clauses 2, 4, Article 36; Clause 1, Article 37; Clauses 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, Article 38; Clause 3, Article 42; Clauses 6, 11, Article 48; Article 49; Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Article 50; Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Article 52; Clause 4, Article 53 of this Decree is the penalty level for organizations. The penalty level for organizations is 2 times the penalty level for individuals.

Thus, from September 10, 2026, except for other agreements, businesses that do not allow female workers to rest for 30 minutes each day during menstruation will be fined up to 40 million VND.