Vietnam: How shall the annual leave of seafarers be calculated?

According to Decree No. 121/2014/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, annual leave and public holidays of seafarers are prescribed as follows:

- Seafarers working on board ships shall be given paid annual leave and public holidays.

- The annual leave shall be calculated on the basis of a minimum of 2.5 calendar days per month of employment. Public and customary holidays, compassionate leave and leave without pay as regulated by laws shall not be counted as part of annual leave.

- Any agreement to forgo the minimum annual leave shall be prohibited.

Besides, Decree No. 121/2014/NĐ-CP also stipulates that the shipowner shall provide seafarers working on board the ship with free of charge food and drinking water of appropriate quality, nutritional value and quantity, meeting food safety requirements as well as religious requirements and cultural practices of seafarers.

Moreover, the ship’s master or any person designated by the master is required to conduct frequent inspections and document the following inspected contents:

- Supplies of food and drinking water;

- All spaces and equipment used for the storage and handling of food and drinking water;

- The gallery and other equipment for the preparation and service of meals.

The shipowner shall be responsible for assigning the ship’s chief cook and catering staff providing meals for seafarers working on board the ship. The ship’s chief cook and catering staff are not required on ships operating with a prescribed manning of less than 10 seafarers.

View more details at Decree No. 121/2014/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, effective from March 01, 2015.

Le Hai

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