If I have to suspend my work because of electricity supply issue while working at the company, will I receive a suspension pay in Vietnam?

If I have to suspend my work because of electricity supply issue while working at the company, will I receive a suspension pay in Vietnam?

In Clause 3, Article 99 of the 2019 Labor Code, it is stipulated as follows:

In case of a suspension of work, the employee shall receive a suspension pay as follows:

1. If the suspension is at the employer’s fault, the employee shall be paid the full salary under the employment contract;

2. If the suspension is at the employee’s fault, the employee shall not receive the salary. If this leads to suspension of work of other employees in the same unit, they shall be paid an amount not smaller than the statutory minimum wages;

3. In case the suspension is caused by an electricity or water supply issue that is not at the employer’s fault, or by a natural disaster, fire, major epidemic, hostility, relocation requested by a competent authority, or for economic reasons, both parties shall negotiate the salary as follows:

a) If the suspension does not exceed 14 working days, the salary shall not fall below the statutory minimum wages;

b) If the suspension is longer than 14 working days, the salary shall be negotiated by both parties and the salary for the first 14 days must not fall below the statutory minimum wages.

As such, in your case, if you have to continue working because of electricity supply issue failure, then you will be entitled to suspension pay in Vietnam. However, depending on the number of days you take off from work, your agreement with the company will vary.

Can I receive an salary advance when I have only been working for 1 month in Vietnam?

In Clause 1, Article 101 of the 2019 Labor Code, it is stipulated as follows:

1. An employee may receive an interest-free salary advance in accordance with conditions agreed on by the two parties.

2. The employer must make the advance payment to the employee for the number of days the employee temporarily leaves his/her work in order to perform duties of citizens for a period of 01 week or longer, but the advance shall not exceed 01 month’s salary. The employee must reimburse the advance.

An employee who is conscripted in accordance with the Law on Conscription may not receive salary advance.

3. When taking annual leave, an employee shall receive an advance payment of at least salary for the entitled days of leave.

Thus, according to the current law in Vietnam, the salary advance will be based on the conditions agreed on by the two parties. The salary advance will not be charged interest.

Best Regards!