New employment law expands unemployment benefits
Vietnam's new Employment Law introduces expanded unemployment insurance policies, increasing benefits, shortening processing times, and broadening vocational training support for workers.
The 2025 Employment Law, effective from January 1, 2026, features several updates to unemployment insurance, broadening workers’ entitlements.
According to representatives from the Vietnam Social Security, participants receive four benefits including job counseling; support for vocational training and skill enhancement; and unemployment allowances.
Notably, the ‘Vocational training support’ regime expands to "support for workers in training and skill enhancement’. The law also empowers the government to adjust contribution rates, provide cash aid, or other forms in case of economic crises, recessions, natural disasters, fires, or dangerous epidemics.
For training support, workers now receive not only tuition coverage but also meal allowances during courses, easing financial burdens and improving job prospects.
On unemployment allowances, the 2025 law bars payments for workers retiring upon reaching pension eligibility. It shortens the waiting period from 15 to 10 working days, allowing benefits five days sooner than before.
Support levels: For vocational training courses under three months, aid matches training center fees, capped at 4.5 million VND per person per course.
For courses three months or longer, monthly aid matches fees, capped at 1.5 million VND per person per month.
Notably, trainees also get a meal allowance of 50,000 VND per person per training day.
Hai Phong News