The proposal by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to reduce workers' working hours to less than 48 hours per week has been reported to the Government by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs .

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs believes that reducing normal working hours to less than 48 hours per week is a policy with a significant impact on the economy and society.

Therefore, the Ministry will conduct thorough research into the scientific and practical basis to ensure the feasibility of proposing this policy during the process of amending and supplementing the Labor Code.

Previously, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and several National Assembly deputies had proposed reducing normal working hours for workers to less than 48 hours per week in order to promptly implement Resolution No. 101 of the National Assembly.

The resolution states: "The Government is tasked with, based on the socio-economic development situation, researching and proposing a reduction in normal working hours for employees to less than 48 hours per week, and reporting to the National Assembly for consideration at an appropriate time."

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The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has proposed reducing workers' working hours to less than 48 hours per week. (Illustration photo: Hoang Ha)

At the 13th National Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor in late 2023, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor proposed that the Government assign the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to lead the effort, in collaboration with other ministries and agencies, to promptly study reducing working hours for laborers to 40 hours, ensuring fairness with the state administrative sector. The goal is to allow workers to rest, regenerate their energy, and take care of their families.

Why is it necessary to reduce working hours?

According to Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, reducing working hours solves many problems. Firstly, it helps to regenerate labor power, making workers healthier and more energetic. Secondly , it helps workers protect their health.

The reality is that workers are falling ill or suffering from serious diseases. "Reducing working hours allows workers to rest, regenerate their energy, take care of their children, and ensure family happiness. In particular, reducing working hours helps workers maintain better health so that when they retire, they can still live healthily, reducing the burden on social security," Mr. Hieu said.

Leaders of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor further cited the example of China, where when the average income of its citizens reached $2,500 per year, the country reduced working hours to 40 hours per week; whereas currently, Vietnam's average income is higher than $2,500 per year but working hours have not yet been reduced.

Mr. Vu Quang Tho, former Director of the Institute of Workers and Trade Unions, believes that the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor's proposal to reduce normal working hours for workers to less than 48 hours per week is appropriate at this time. This proposal reflects the aspirations of workers in general to have time to rest and regenerate their labor capacity.

Mr. Tho argued that this is the opportune time to reduce working hours for laborers; however, reducing working hours in the private sector too drastically would hinder output growth and negatively impact the GDP of the entire economy.

Therefore, reducing the normal working hours of the private sector to 40 hours/week, as is currently the case in the public sector, would immediately put businesses in a difficult situation. Instead of a sudden reduction, it would be better to initially reduce the normal working hours of the private sector to 44 hours/week and gradually approach the 40 hours/week level of the public sector.

In fact, before the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor proposed reducing working hours to 48 hours/week, at the National Assembly session held at the end of October 2023, Mr. Pham Trong Nghia, a full-time member of the National Assembly's Social Affairs Committee, had proposed reducing working hours for private sector workers from 48 hours/week to 44 hours/week, and eventually to 40 hours/week as in the public sector.

According to Mr. Nghia, in Vietnam, the regulation allows for 200-300 hours of overtime per year. If you calculate the total actual working time and overtime hours of employees, it is relatively high compared to the general average in other countries.

Mr. Nghia argued that there is no reason why, as the country develops, workers should have to work long hours. Workers need to be cared for, supported, and should benefit more from the achievements of the country's development. This is also a progressive trend in most countries around the world.

Statistics from the International Labour Organization (ILO) show that most countries now have adopted a 40-hour work week, or even less than 40 hours. A survey of 154 countries revealed that only 2 countries have a work week exceeding 48 hours; one-third of countries follow the 48-hour rule, similar to Vietnam, and approximately two-thirds have a work week of 48 hours or less.

According to the ILO, working overtime and not having enough time for rest and recovery can affect workers' health and increase the risk of workplace accidents.

In many parts of the world, there is a strong link between low wages and excessive overtime. Long, continuous working hours prevent workers from taking time off, spending time with family, and engaging with their communities.