"Amended Law strengthens legal protections for overseas contract workers", 25 August 2026

During its extraordinary session, the 16th National Assembly on August 24 officially passed a law amending the Law on Vietnamese Workers Working Abroad Under Contract, with 476 out of 477 lawmakers voting in favor.

…, the law introduces rigorous safeguards to ensure clear, consistent, and practical state management. The revised legislation explicitly prohibits fraudulent acts aimed at appropriating workers’ assets, while banning unauthorized service fees and levies…

Agencies are strictly permitted to collect training fees only after the worker has been officially selected and accepted by foreign employers through signed employment contracts.

The law also mandates essential terms in dispatch contracts, including detailed breakdowns of worker payments, security deposits, and conditions for unilateral contract termination, dispute resolution, and compensation.

The Minister of Home Affairs is assigned to prescribe standardized contract templates and fee structures.

To ensure seamless implementation, service agencies must publish and regularly update operational information on their official websites for public scrutiny.

Additionally, the maximum waiting period for departure post-selection is capped at 180 days. Should agencies fail to meet this departure timeline, they must compensate workers per agreement and refund all collected service fees and associated deposits.