1. Home
  2. advocacy updates
  3. auscham joins vbf seminar draft decree replacing decree 152 work permits foreign

AusCham Joins VBF Seminar on Draft Decree Replacing Decree 152 on Work Permits for Foreign Workers

On the morning of 28 May 2025, the Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) successfully held a hybrid seminar at the Ministry of Finance Office to discuss the Draft Decree replacing Decree 152/2020/NĐ-CP, which governs the management of foreign workers in Vietnam.

The session was co-chaired by Mr. Vu Van Chung, Deputy Director of the Foreign Investment Agency (Ministry of Planning and Investment), and Ms. Nguyen Thi Quyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Employment (Ministry of Home Affairs – MOHA). The seminar attracted over 60 in-person participants and nearly 300 online attendees, reflecting the high level of interest among foreign investors and the international business community.

AusCham Vietnam was represented by our Head of Advocacy & Partnerships, Ms. Huong Tran, who joined other VBF members and stakeholders to provide feedback and discuss critical aspects of the Draft Decree.

Key highlights from the seminar included:

  • A presentation by Mr. Laurent Quistrebert (GMS), offering international perspectives on Vietnam’s work permit regime and suggesting improvements aligned with global best practices.

  • An overview by Ms. Huyen Nguyen, representative of the VBF Human Resources Working Group, summarizing member concerns and providing well-substantiated recommendations for reform.

  • Constructive engagement from MOHA, with Ms. Quyen confirming that several of VBF’s proposals had already been reflected in the latest draft. She also announced plans for a new online portal for work permit applications, expected to launch in Q4 2025.

Importantly, MOHA plans to issue detailed guidance and conduct training sessions following the Decree’s expected enactment in mid-June 2025. These efforts aim to promote consistent implementation across provinces and reduce administrative bottlenecks.

AusCham welcomes the Ministry's openness to feedback and appreciates VBF’s proactive role in shaping a more streamlined and transparent legal framework for foreign labor management in Vietnam. We remain committed to working closely with our members and government counterparts to support a favorable business environment.

LINK FOR DOCUMENTS 

Should you have any comments/positions, please kindly share with AusCham via advocacy@auschamvn.org.