Forbidden actions when imposing disciplinary measures in the workplace in Vietnam

Forbidden actions when imposing disciplinary measures in the workplace in Vietnam

Labor discipline comprises provisions in the internal labor regulations on the compliance in respect of time, technology, production and business management that are imposed by the employer and prescribed by law.

Pursuant to Article 127 of the Labor Code 2019, forbidden actions when imposing disciplinary measures in the workplace include:

- Harming the employee's health, life, honor or dignity.

- Applying monetary fines or deducting the employee’s salary wage.

- Imposing a disciplinary measure against an employee for a violation which is not stipulated in the internal labor regulations or employment contract or labor laws.

Forbidden actions when imposing disciplinary measures in the workplace in Vietnam (Internet image)

Principles and procedures for taking disciplinary measures at work in Vietnam

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 122 of the Labor Code 2019, principles and procedures for taking disciplinary measures at work are prescribed as follows:

(1) Disciplinary measures against an employee shall be taken in accordance with the following regulations:

- The employer is able to prove the employee’s fault;

- The process is participated in by the representative organization of employees to which the employee is a member;

- The employee is physically present and has the right to defend him/herself, request a lawyer or the representative organization of employees to defend him/her; if the employee is under 15 years of age, his/her parent or a legal representative must be present;

- The disciplinary process is recorded in writing.

(2) It is prohibited to impose more than one disciplinary measure for one violation of internal labor regulations.

(3) Where an employee commits multiple violations of internal labor regulations, he/she shall be subjected to the heaviest disciplinary measure for the most serious violation.

(4) No disciplinary measure shall be taken against an employee during the period when:

- The employee is taking leave on account of illness or convalescence; or on other types of leave with the employer’s consent;

- The employee is being held under temporary custody or detention;

- The employee is waiting for verification and conclusion of the competent agency for acts of violations, stipulated in Clause 1 and Clause 2 Article 125 of the Labor Code 2019;

- The employee is pregnant, on maternal leave or raising a child under 12 months of age.

(5)  No disciplinary measure shall be taken against an employee who commits a violation of internal labor regulations while suffering from the mental illness or another disease which causes the loss of consciousness ability or the loss of his/her behavior control.

Time limit for taking disciplinary measures at work in Vietnam

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 123 of the Labor Code 2019, the time limit for taking disciplinary measures against a violation is 06 months from the date of the occurrence of the violation. The time limit for dealing with violations directly relating to finance, assets and disclosure of technological or business secrets shall be 12 months.

In case the time limit stipulated in this Article has expired or is shorter than 60 days when the period stipulated in Clause 4 Article 122 of the Labor Code 2019 expires, the former may be extended for up to 60 more days.

The employer shall issue a disciplinary decision within the period specified above

Mai Thanh Loi

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