Vietnam not ready to mandate 40-hour workweek for private sector

The ministry made the point in response to a proposal from voters in Da Nang City to amend the 2019 Labor Code and cut the maximum normal workweek from 48 hours to 44 or 40 hours.

The voters said shorter working hours would give employees more time to rest, recover, care for their families, and improve their quality of life, while bringing Vietnam closer to labor trends in other countries.

But the ministry said such a change would have far-reaching consequences for workers, employers, business operations, the labor market, productivity, and the wider economy.

Under the current Labor Code, normal working hours must not exceed eight hours a day and 48 hours a week, although employers are encouraged to adopt a 40-hour workweek.

The ministry said Vietnam’s labor productivity remains relatively low compared with many countries in the region.

Therefore, cutting working hours before productivity improves could weaken business competitiveness, push up labor costs, affect employment, and reduce workers’ incomes.

The government is also pursuing stronger economic growth, including a double-digit growth target in the coming years, making any change to working-time rules a policy that requires careful consideration.

For now, the ministry recommended keeping the existing 48-hour weekly ceiling while continuing to encourage businesses to adopt a 40-hour workweek where possible.