On June 16, 2025, the 15th National Assembly passed the revised Employment Law (Employment Law of 2025), consisting of 8 chapters and 55 articles, which will take effect on January 1, 2026, replacing the Employment Law of 2013. For the first time, provisions concerning older persons are explicitly and separately included in the Employment Law, marking an important step forward in implementing policies to adapt to Vietnam’s rapidly ageing population.
Provisions on Older Persons in the Employment Law of 2025
According to Article 13 on “Employment Support Policies for Older Workers,” older persons in the workforce will be eligible for loans to create, maintain, and expand employment; receive support for training and skills enhancement; participate in the assessment and certification of national occupational skills; and benefit from retraining and career transition programs suited to the context of population ageing, depending on socio-economic conditions and budgetary capacity. This is the first time within Vietnam’s employment law framework that older persons are recognised as a potential labour force to be developed, rather than merely a passive group receiving social welfare. The Employment Law of 2025 also includes older persons among the priority groups for participation in public employment programs, alongside other vulnerable groups.
Notably, for the first time, age has been included in the list of grounds for identifying prohibited discriminatory practices in the field of employment. In addition, older persons have been added to the list of groups eligible for State support in skills development, alongside other vulnerable groups such as the poor, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities.
The Role of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly and HelpAge International in Vietnam in the Policy Advocacy Process
To contribute to these changes, the Vietnam Association of the Elderly (VAE) – a member organization of the global HelpAge network – and HelpAge International in Vietnam (HAI) actively engaged in the policy advocacy process. Since 2022, HAI has collaborated with the VAE to conduct in-depth studies on employment, lifelong learning, and the economic participation of older persons, from which recommendations for amending the Employment Law were developed. The findings of these studies served as important reference materials during the consultation process for the draft revised Employment Law.
The VAE organized and participated in numerous meetings with the drafting agency – the Department of Employment under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs – to provide inputs on the Draft Law. The VAE regularly exchanged information and updated HAI on the progress of the draft legislation. In turn, HAI frequently shared international experiences on employment for older persons with the VAE and provided comments on the draft law submitted to the Association. In addition, HAI provided technical support to the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) by facilitating experts to prepare presentations for the workshop “Sustainable Employment for Older and Ageing Workers,” held in December 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City. HAI also supported one representative from the VAE to participate and deliver remarks at this workshop. The proactive and continuous engagement of the VAE and HAI, along with their collaboration with other relevant organizations, has contributed to ensuring that the voices and rights of older persons are reflected in national policy.
Towards an Active and Inclusive Ageing Society
The inclusion of older persons in the Employment Law of 2025 not only affirms them as an experienced labor force capable of contributing to society, but also reflects the State’s commitment to building an active ageing society where everyone – regardless of age – has the opportunity to continue contributing and benefiting from the achievements of development. This marks an important step toward ensuring that no one is left behind in Vietnam’s sustainable development process.
