The revised Labour Code which was passed yesterday during the on-going session of the 13th National Assembly (NA), allows female workers to take six months of maternity leave.
Maternity leave will be extended to six months
Passing with a high percentage of votes, the measure will be extended from the current four months to six months to ensure better care for both mothers and children. An additional month will be added for every extra child born in a single birth. A mother bearing twins, for example, would be entitled to seven months.The decision will take effect from May 1st 2013.
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor reported that Vietnam Social Insurance only reimbursed 75% of the cost of maternity leave, and would be capable of meeting the remaining amount once the leave is extended, about VND6 trillion (US$288 million).
Around 1.5 million babies are born each year in Vietnam – a country of about 86 million people.
According to a report from the Ministry of Health, the percentage of Vietnamese mothers breastfeeding is much lower than the global average. In Vietnam, less than 20% of babies are exclusively breastfed during the first six months, while the world average is about 33%.
Over the last decade the breastfeeding rate in Vietnam has decreased dramatically, from 34% in 1998 to 19% in 2010.
The revised Labour Code will also give more benefits to labourers for overtime payment. Workers will be entitled to at least a time and a half for extra hours, double time for work on weekends and triple time for working during holidays.
There will be no change in retirement age which is 55 for women and 60 for men. However, those working in remote locations, islands and mountainous areas and those employed in dangerous jobs will get earlier retirement based on the Governments classification of these jobs.
