Are Freelance Workers Eligible for Support from the Unemployment Insurance Fund?
According to Clause 1, Article 43 of the 2013 Employment Law, the requirement for mandatory participation in unemployment insurance is as follows:
- Employees must participate in unemployment insurance when working under labor contracts or work contracts as follows:
a) Labor contracts or work contracts with an indefinite term;
b) Labor contracts or work contracts with a definite term;
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Section II of Resolution 116/NQ-CP of 2021 stipulates the financial support for employees affected by the COVID-19 pandemic from the surplus of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, wherein:
02 cases of employees participating in UI are entitled to receive financial support, including:
- Employees participating in UI as of September 30, 2021 ****** (excluding employees working in state agencies, political organizations, socio-political organizations, armed forces units, and public service providers with regular expenditures ensured by the state budget).
- Employees who have stopped participating in UI due to the termination of labor contracts or work contracts during the period from January 1, 2020, to the end of September 30, 2021, with the UI participation period reserved according to employment law regulations, excluding those receiving monthly pensions.
It is evident that to receive support from the Unemployment Insurance Fund, one must be participating in UI or have stopped participating in UI (as stipulated above). Therefore, freelance workers are not eligible for this support.
However, you may refer to the procedure for receiving support due to the impact of COVID-19 according to Resolution 68:
- Which freelance workers are eligible for support due to COVID-19 impact?- Will receiving allowances from the UI Fund affect the UI participation period?
- Who are the beneficiaries of support from the Unemployment Insurance Fund?
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