Vietnam: Is the employer required to pay health insurance premiums for employees taking sickness leave for more than 14 days?

Clause 5, Article 42 of Decision 595/QD-BHXH in 2017 stipulates the management of participants as follows:

An employee who takes leave due to sickness for at least 14 working days in a month in accordance with regulations of law on social insurance in Vietnam is not required to pay insurance contributions and premiums but still receives benefits from health insurance.

And Clause 3, Article 2 of Decree 146/2018/ND-CP persons whose insurance premiums are paid by the social insurance agency in Vietnam:

Employees on sickness leave in connection with diseases defined in the List of diseases requiring long-term treatment are required, issued by the Ministry of Health of Vietnam.

Thus, if an employee takes sickness leave for 14 or more days in a month, the employer is not required to pay health insurance premiums but still enjoy health insurance benefits. For those suffering from diseases requiring long-term treatment, the social insurance agency will pay their health insurance premiums.

Respectfully!