Weekly Working Hours of Employees May Be Significantly Reduced from 2021

Illustrative image

To be specific, Article 107 of the Draft proposes 02 options regarding the regulation of normal working hours for employees as follows:

Option 1: Maintain the current regulation in the Labor Code 2012 but with amendments

Normal working hours shall not exceed 8 hours in one day and not exceed 48 hours in one week.

Employers have the right to stipulate working hours by day or week but must notify employees. In the case of weekly working hours, normal working hours shall not exceed 10 hours in 01 day, but not exceed 48 hours in 01 week.

Employers are responsible for ensuring the limitation of time working in exposure to dangerous, harmful factors according to the relevant technical standards. (This is newly supplemented content in the Draft).

The State encourages employers to implement a 40-hour working week.

Option 2: Reduce normal weekly working hours

Normal working hours shall not exceed 8 hours in one day and not exceed 44 hours in one week. (Reduced by 04 hours compared to the current regulation in the Labor Code 2012).

Employers have the right to stipulate working hours by day or week but must notify employees. In the case of weekly working hours, normal working hours shall not exceed 10 hours in 01 day, but not exceed 44 hours in 01 week.

For those working in especially heavy, hazardous, or dangerous jobs according to the list issued by the Minister of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, normal working hours shall not exceed 6 hours in one day.

As such, if Option 02 in the Draft is approved, from January 01, 2021, employees will have 04 hours reduced in their working week (equivalent to 01 session) for those places currently with a 06-day workweek policy.

Nguyen Trinh

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE