Regulations on labor and employment in the International Financial Center in Vietnam

The Decree, comprising 4 chapters and 15 articles, provides detailed regulations and guidance for the implementation of Clause 3, Article 20, Clause 1, Article 21, and points a and b of Clause 4, Article 21 of Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15 dated June 27, 2025, of the National Assembly on the International Financial Center in Vietnam (hereinafter referred to as Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15) concerning labor, employment, and social security within the International Financial Center in Vietnam (hereinafter referred to as the International Financial Center).

The Decree stipulates the following subjects of application:

1. Vietnamese workers as defined in Clause 1, Article 2 of the Labor Code No. 45/2019/QH14 and foreign workers as defined in Clause 3, Article 2 of the Labor Code No. 45/2019/QH14 working for employers as defined in this Decree.

2. Employers include: Members of the International Finance Centre, the Executive Body of the International Finance Centre, the Supervisory Body of the International Finance Centre, and the Dispute Resolution Body of the International Finance Centre as stipulated in Clauses 2, 5, and 6 of Article 3, and Point c, Clause 1, Article 9 of Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15.

3. Other relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Labor Recruitment

Regarding labor recruitment, Article 3 of the Decree stipulates as follows:

- Employers may proactively recruit Vietnamese workers as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 11 of the Labor Code No. 45/2019/QH14. 

- Employers may proactively recruit foreign workers according to job needs without being limited by the percentage of foreign workers.

- The recruitment of Vietnamese and foreign workers does not affect national security.

Authority to issue, reissue, extend, and revoke work permits and certificates of exemption from work permit requirements

The Decree stipulates that the Executive Agency of the International Finance Center in Ho Chi Minh City and the Executive Agency of the International Finance Center in Da Nang City (hereinafter referred to as the Executive Agency in the cities) have the authority to issue, reissue, extend, and revoke work permits and certificates of exemption from work permit requirements for foreign workers working for employers specified in Clause 2, Article 2 of this Decree in the cities.

Foreign Workers Exempt from Work Permits

Article 5 of the Decree stipulates that foreign workers are exempt from work permits in one of the following cases:

a) Belonging to the categories specified in points a and b, Clause 1, Article 20 of Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15, except for accompanying family members.

b) Belonging to the category not subject to work permit requirements as stipulated in Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP 

c) Meeting the professional standards as prescribed by the governing body in the cities.

Employers are responsible for requesting the issuance, re-issuance, extension, and revocation of certificates confirming exemption from work permit requirements for foreign workers as stipulated in this Article.

Issuance, Reissuance, Extension, and Revocation of Certificates of Exemption from Work Permit Requirements

The Decree stipulates that the issuance, reissuance, extension, and revocation of certificates of exemption from work permit requirements for workers specified in Article 5 of this Decree shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP .

The maximum processing time for applications for the issuance or extension of certificates of exemption from work permit requirements is 3 working days from the date of receipt of a complete application.

In cases where foreign workers fall under the category specified in point a, Article 5 of this Decree, the employer is not required to obtain a certificate confirming exemption from work permit requirements, but must notify the relevant authorities in the cities online via the National Public Service Portal, through public postal services, or in person at least 3 working days before the foreign worker is expected to begin work in Vietnam.

The notification must include the following basic information: full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, name of the foreign employer, workplace, and duration of employment. The duration of employment must not exceed the validity period of the visa, temporary residence permit, or permanent residence permit as stipulated in points a and b, Clause 1, Article 20 of Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15.

The maximum validity period of the certificate confirming exemption from work permit requirements is 10 years.

Issuance, Reissuance, Extension, and Revocation of Work Permits

Article 8 of the Decree stipulates that employers are responsible for requesting the issuance, reissuance, extension, and revocation of work permits for foreign workers, except for those specified in Article 5 of this Decree.

In the case of requesting the issuance or extension of work permits for foreign workers, the employer is not required to provide an explanation of the need to employ foreign workers and is not required to announce the recruitment of Vietnamese workers for positions intended for foreign workers.

The issuance, reissuance, extension, and revocation of work permits for foreign workers as stipulated in this Article shall be carried out in accordance with Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP.

The maximum processing time for applications for the issuance or extension of work permits is 3 working days from the date of receipt of a complete application.

The maximum duration of a work permit is 10 years.