Vietnam passes labor law amendments and new overseas Vietnamese policy

The National Assembly of Vietnam has passed amendments to the Law on Vietnamese Workers Working Abroad under Contract, with the new regulations set to take effect on March 1, 2027. The updated law aims to protect the rights and interests of laborers by ensuring businesses only collect fees once workers have been officially accepted and have signed contracts. Additionally, the law mandates that the waiting period for departure after recruitment must not exceed 180 days; failure to comply requires businesses to compensate workers and refund all service fees.

In a separate strategic development, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW regarding overseas Vietnamese affairs. This resolution marks a shift in policy from merely mobilizing the overseas community to actively creating mechanisms that allow them to contribute knowledge, technology, and resources to national development. The policy emphasizes treating overseas Vietnamese as an integral part of the nation and focuses on fostering connections through intellectual and economic engagement rather than just material remittances.