Vietnam Ministry of Home Affairs clarifies public employee contract regulations

The Ministry of Home Affairs has provided clarification regarding the number of times public employees can sign fixed-term working contracts under new regulations.

Under the 2010 Law on Public Employees, those recruited from July 1, 2020, were not limited in the number of fixed-term contracts they could sign, with terms ranging from 12 to 60 months. However, starting July 1, 2026, Decree No. 259/2026/ND-CP stipulates that fixed-term contracts must follow labor laws, which define such contracts as having a duration not exceeding 36 months.

The Ministry stated that the law does not set a rigid maximum number of times a fixed-term contract can be signed. Instead, the duration and termination points are determined by both parties in accordance with labor legislation. For employees recruited between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2026, who have signed fixed-term contracts two or more times, they may transition to indefinite-term contracts upon the conclusion of the second term if they meet all necessary requirements.