How are public employees allowed to do business from July 2026

Legal Consulting Office of Lao Dong Newspaper answers:

Article 13 of the 2025 Law on Public Employees (effective from July 1, 2026) stipulates the rights of public employees in performing professional activities and business activities as follows:

1. Being allowed to sign labor contracts or service contracts with agencies, organizations, and other units if the law on the industry or field does not prohibit it, ensuring no conflict of interests according to the provisions of the law on anti-corruption, not contrary to the agreement in the working contract and not violating professional ethics.

In case there is no agreement in the working contract, the written consent of the head of the public non-business unit must be obtained; for the head of the public non-business unit, the written consent of the directly managing superior must be obtained.

2. Being allowed to practice as an individual if the law on the industry or field does not prohibit it, ensuring no conflict of interests according to the provisions of the law on anti-corruption and not violating professional ethics.

3. Being allowed to contribute capital, participate in managing and operating non-public enterprises, cooperatives, hospitals, educational institutions, and scientific research organizations, except for cases where the law on anti-corruption, the law on enterprises, or the law on industries and fields have other regulations.

4. To exercise other rights in business operations if not contrary to the provisions of law on professional activities and regulations of competent authorities.

5. Public employees working in public non-business units in the field of science and technology, public higher education institutions are entitled to exercise the rights specified in this Article, other rights according to the provisions of law on science, technology and innovation, law on enterprises and other relevant laws.

Thus, from July 1, 2026, civil servants are allowed to contribute capital, participate in managing and operating non-public enterprises, cooperatives, hospitals, educational institutions, and scientific research organizations, except for cases where the law on anti-corruption, the law on enterprises, or the law on industries and fields have other regulations.