CHAPTER I:     GENERAL PROVISIONS
        

Article 1.

The Labour Code regulates the labour relations between the salaried labourer and the labour user, and the other social relations directly related to the labour relations.

Article 2.

The Labour Code applies to all labourers, all organisations and individuals using labour according to labour contracts in all economic sectors and of all forms of ownership.
This Labour Code also applies to the apprentices, houseworkers and a number of other jobs defined in this Code.

Article 3.

Vietnamese citizens working in foreign invested businesses in Vietnam or at foreign or international offices and organisations based on Vietnamese territory and foreigners working for Vietnamese businesses and organisations or individuals on Vietnamese territory come under the Jurisdiction of this Code and other prescriptions of Vietnamese law unless otherwise stipulated in the international conventions which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has signed or adhered to.

Article 4.

The labour regime for State employees and public servants, the holders of elected, assigned or appointed posts, persons in the People's Armed Forces, the People's Security Service, persons of the mass organisations and other political and social organisations, and members of the cooperatives shall be stipulated by other legal documents. However, some of the provisions of this Code may be applied to a number of these persons, depending on concrete cases.

Article 5.

Everyone has the right to work, freely choose a job or profession, learn a trade and improve his professional standard without discrimination of sex, nationality, social background, belief and religion.

Maltreatment of labourer and forcible labour in any form is forbidden.

The State encourages, creates conditions or assists all activities which generate employment or self employment, all activities in job teaching and learning to create employment as well as all activities in production and business which draw a large workforce.

Article 6.

A labourer must have attained at least 15 years of age, have the capability to work and must work accounting to a labour contract. A labour user may be a business, an office, an organisation or an individual (in the latter case he must be at least 18 years old). The labour user hires and uses labour and pays for it.

Article 7.

The labourer is paid a salary based on his agreement with the labour user but this salary shall not at any rate be lower than the minimum salary prescribed by the State if he meets the requirements in productivity, quality and efficiency already agreed upon. He is covered by the regulations on labour protection, and must be assured conditions to work in labour safety and hygiene. He is entitled to statutory paid leaves including annual leaves and to social insurance as prescribed by law. The State shall enforce special labour regimes and social policies aimed at protecting women's labour and some types of specific labour.

The labouring people have the right to found, join and work for the trade union according to 1.he Trade Union Law in order to protect their rights and lawful interests They are entitled to the community welfare benefits and take part in the management of the business according t;; the rules of the business and the prescriptions of law.

The labourer has the obligation to carry out the labour contract, the collective labour observe labour discipline and labour regulations and obey the lawful direction of the labour user.

The labourer has the right to go on strike as prescribed by law.

Article 8.

-The labour user has the right to select and recruit labour, assign labour and control its disposition as required by the need of production and business. He has the right to issue rewards or commendations and handle the violations of the labour discipline as prescribed by the labour legislation.

-The labour user has the right to send his representative to negotiate and sign collective labour contracts within the business or inside the whole service. He has the responsibility to cooperate and discuss with the trade union questions concerning the labour relations, to improve the material and spiritual life of the labourer.

-The labour user has the obligation to carry out the labour contract, the collective labour contracts and other agreements with the labouring people, respect their honour and dignity and behave properly toward them.

Article 9.

The labour relations between the labourer and the labour user are established and effected through negotiations and agreement on the principle of voluntariness, equality, cooperation, mutual respect for each others rights and lawful interests and full implementation of the commitments.

The ,State encourages such agreements as assuring for labourers more favourable conditions than prescribed in the labour legislation.

The labourer and the labour user have the right to ask the authorized office or organisation to settle a labour dispute. The State encourages the settlement of labour disputes by reconciliation and arbitration.

Article 1O.

The State exercises unified management of the manpower resource, manages labour through legislation and adopts policies to develop and distribute this manpower resource, diversify the forms of labour utilisation and labour supply service.

The State guides the labourer and the labour user to build an harmonious and stable labour relation so as together to work for the development of the business.

Article 11.

The State encourages a democratic, just and civilized management of labour at the business. It encourages all measures including the deduction from the business's profits as bonuses in order to make the labourer pay greater attention to the operation of the business with a view to high efficiency
in the management of labour and production of the business.

The State shall enact policies to help the labourer buy shares and otherwise contribute capital to the development of the business.

Article 12.

The trade union joins the State office, the economic organisations and the social organisations in caring for and protecting the rights and interests of the labourer in the inspection and supervision of the implementation of the prescriptions of labour legislation.


National Institute of Labour Protection of Vietnam-CIS/ILO Collaborating Center

Address: No 1. Yet Kieu Tel:8.250129 - 8.222949 Fax:(84.4) 8.246752  Email: NILP@Netnam.org.vn; VIBHLD@Netnam.vn