The Government has recently requested the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) to direct localities to flexibly relax regulations and conditions for grant, extension and certification of work permits for foreign workers in Vietnam in response to the new situation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Such is provided under Government Resolution 105/NQ-CP of September 9, which is designed to help enterprises, cooperatives and business households recover their business activities after the fourth outbreak of the pandemic in the country.
The new Resolution requires the MOLISA to relax some provisions of Government Decree 152 of 2020 concerning foreign workers in Vietnam. Specifically, every foreign expert or technical worker must possess a university or equivalent or higher degree and have at least three years’ working experience relevant to his/her expected job assignment in Vietnam, regardless of his/her trained discipline as required under Decree 152.
Foreign workers who possess valid work permits may be assigned to work in other provinces or cities for up to six months without having to apply again for a work permit.
In September, the MOLISA will have to propose to competent authorities fast-track procedures for permitting enterprises to increase their employees’ monthly overtime working hours, which, however, must not exceed 300 hours per year.
At the same time, the Ministry of Health will be responsible for providing localities with guidance on procedures for quarantine of workers before receiving them upon their arrival or their return from other localities.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Construction is required to coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in studying and proposing to the Prime Minister mechanisms, policies and master plans on construction of accommodations for workers in economic zones, hi-tech parks, industrial parks, industrial clusters, and agro-forestry-fishery production establishments.
Local authorities are responsible for supporting enterprises in calling for employees to return to work in industrial parks, economic zones and agro-forestry-fishery production establishments, and arrange jobs for workers returning home from other areas.-
