The Government has officially passed Resolution No. 117/NQ-CP dated May 2, 2026 on the addition of the Draft Law on Occupational Safety and Health (amended) to the 2026 Legislative Program of the XVI National Assembly of Vietnam. Accordingly, the Government agrees to submit this draft law to the National Assembly Standing Committee for consideration and decision on its inclusion in the law and ordinance development program for the coming year.
The draft law will be developed through standard procedures, on the basis of a proposal from the Vietnamese Ministry of Home Affairs. The Government assigns the Ministry of Home Affairs full responsibility for the content, reporting documents, and ensuring that the development of the draft law complies with current legal regulations.
At the same time, the Minister of Home Affairs is authorized, by delegation from the Prime Minister, to sign on behalf of the Government the Submission to the National Assembly Standing Committee regarding the addition of the draft law. The Ministry is also responsible for proactively coordinating, explaining, and incorporating feedback from National Assembly bodies throughout the process of scrutiny and finalization of the draft law.
The amendment of the Law on Occupational Safety and Health has been proposed on the basis of a review of its implementation in practice during the 2016–2025 period. The assessment report indicates that, after nearly a decade of implementation, the law has made an important contribution to establishing a relatively comprehensive legal framework on occupational safety. Awareness among both employers and employees has been markedly improved, working conditions have been progressively enhanced, and a safety culture in production and business has gradually taken shape.
However, alongside the achievements made, the current regulatory system also reveals a number of limitations. Some provisions have not kept pace with the rapid development of science and technology, particularly in the context of the digital economy and increasingly prevalent new models of employment. Current regulations also do not fully cover the sector of workers without employment relationships — a group that is growing rapidly in the modern economy.
Furthermore, overlaps between the Law on Occupational Safety and Health and certain other specialized laws still persist, creating difficulties in implementation. Some provisions also do not fully meet the international commitments and standards that Vietnam has subscribed to, presenting an urgent need for amendment and supplementation to ensure consistency and feasibility.
In that context, the inclusion of the Draft Law on Occupational Safety and Health (amended) in the 2026 Legislative Program is expected to create a more solid legal foundation, in line with development realities and integration trends. The draft law aims not only to improve the effectiveness of state management but also to better protect the rights, health, and safety of workers across all sectors.
The amendment of the law is also seen as an important step toward promoting sustainable development, building a safe and modern working environment in line with the requirements of the economy in the new phase.
