The simplest way to distinguish cadres, civil servants and public employees in Vietnam

Cadres 

Civil servants

Public employees

Origin

To be elected, approved and appointed to hold posts or titles for a given term of office

(Clause 1, Article 4 of the Law on Cadres and Civil servants 2008).

To be recruited and appointed to ranks, posts or titles in agencies

(Clause 1, Article 1 of the Law on Cadres and Civil servants and the amended Law on Public Employees 2019)

To be recruited according to working positions, under working contracts 

(Article 2 Law on Public Employees 2010)

Working regime

Working under the elected, approved and appointed terms.

Full-time job

Working according to the term of the contract.

Probation

No probation

- 12 months with class C civil servants.

- 06 months with class D civil servants.

(Article 20 Decree 138/2020)

- 12 months if university training standards are required. For doctors, it is 09 months; 

- 09 months if college training standards are required; 

- 06 months if the standard of intermediate training is required.

(Article 21 Decree 115/2020/ND-CP)

Payroll and salary regime

Based on payroll and salary from the state budget.

Based on payroll and salary from the state budget.

Receive salary from the salary fund of public non-business units.

No longer permanent staff if recruited after July 1, 2020 except for the case of cadres and civil servants changing to public employees; Persons who are recruited as public employees to work in areas with extremely difficult socio-economic conditions.

(Clause 2, Article 2 of the Law on Cadres and Civil servants and the revised Law on Public Employees 2019)

Unemployment insurance

Do not have to participate in unemployment insurance

(Clause 1, Article 43 of the Law on Employment)

Do not have to participate in unemployment insurance

(Clause 1, Article 43 of the Law on Employment)

Must participate in Unemployment Insurance.

(Clause 1, Article 43 of the Law on Employment)