Employees Working in Hazardous Environments Need to Know!?

Compared to normal working conditions, employees working in hazardous environments are entitled to the following benefits:

1. Working hours:

No more than 6 hours per day for those doing especially strenuous, hazardous, or dangerous jobs as listed.

2. Annual leave:

- 14 working days for those engaged in strenuous, harmful, dangerous jobs or working in areas with harsh living conditions as listed;- 16 working days for those doing especially strenuous, harmful, dangerous jobs or working in areas with especially harsh living conditions as listed.

3. Physical compensation:

Employees working in hazardous and dangerous conditions are entitled to in-kind compensation from their employers as stipulated by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs. Depending on labor conditions and environmental standards, in-kind compensation is calculated on a daily rate and converted to cash value as follows:

- Level 1: 10,000 VND;- Level 2: 15,000 VND;- Level 3: 20,000 VND;- Level 4: 25,000 VND.

Note that employees are not to be compensated in cash or through salary adjustments in place of in-kind compensation. See the instructions at: Circular 25/2013/TT-BLDTBXH

4. Labor protection equipment:

Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes:

- Head protection; eye and face protection; hearing protection;- Respiratory protection;- Hand, foot, and body protection;- Fall protection; electric shock, electromagnetic field protection; drowning protection;- Other safety and hygiene labor protection devices.

Employees working in hazardous or dangerous conditions must be fully equipped with personal protective equipment by their employers and must use them during work as stipulated by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs.

Personal protective equipment must meet quality standards.

See the instructions at: Circular 04/2014/TT-BLDTBXH

5. Health care:

Annually, employers must organize periodic health check-ups for employees engaged in strenuous and hazardous work to prevent occupational diseases.

Especially, the following individuals must not be employed in strenuous, harmful, or dangerous jobs:

- Employees who are minors;- Elderly employees, except in special cases as regulated by the Government of Vietnam:- Elderly employees with experience and high skills, having at least 15 years of professional experience; holding a certificate or professional certification, or recognized as artisans as per the legal provisions;- Elderly employees who meet health standards as issued by the Minister of Health for the respective profession or job;- Usage is temporary; not exceeding 5 years for each employee;- Must undergo health check-ups at least twice a year;- At least one other employee who is not elderly must work alongside the elderly employee.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE