After graduating and going to work, many students are 'blind' to labor laws

Not knowing the basic laws, many new graduates find themselves losing their rights and not knowing who to complain to when they first enter the job market.

Even after graduating and working, many students are still unclear about labor laws - Photo: MT

To avoid unfortunate disadvantages, students need to proactively equip themselves with knowledge of Labor Law while still in school.

Understanding your rights and obligations will help you feel more confident when dealing with employers and know how to protect yourself from occupational risks.

Ambiguous salary, insurance, law

Duc Phong - a senior student at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City - officially entered the labor market after a period of working as a freelancer. However, in his first interview for a full-time position, Phong faced ambiguity about labor rights.

"During the interview, the company said the probationary salary was 80% of the official salary. Because I did not understand the regulations, I agreed. Then I asked experienced people and learned that according to current law, the minimum probationary salary must be 85%," Phong said.

Not stopping there, when he was informed of the specific salary, Phong thought that it was the actual amount received, personal income tax, social insurance or unemployment insurance would be deducted by the company. However, when he sent an email to ask again, the company's response was quite vague, not clearly stating the deductions, making him feel uneasy.

"Luckily I didn't sign the contract right away. If I hadn't asked again, I probably wouldn't have known I was at a disadvantage," Phong shared.

Not only students in big cities, many young people in other provinces are also at a disadvantage when going to work due to lack of understanding of labor rights.

Quynh Nhu - a student in Hue - once accepted a part-time job with a salary of 16,000 VND/hour. Because she did not understand the regulations on minimum wage, Nhu agreed to this payment without question.

"At that time, I just thought that having a job was good enough, so I didn't ask any more questions. Later I found out that the salary was quite low compared to the general level," Nhu shared.

It is worth mentioning that because she did not sign a clear contract, in the last month, Nhu had her salary cut by the company without receiving any specific explanation.

"I don't know who to ask, and I don't have any evidence, so I have to give up," Nhu said.

Students need to proactively grasp the law to avoid risks.

Cases like Phong or Nhu are not rare. According to Master Tran Nam - Head of Student Affairs Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University), the current lack of understanding of labor law among students stems from many reasons: the curriculum does not integrate enough practical legal skills, the practice environment is limited, and most of all, the "negligent" mentality while still in school.

To overcome this, students need to proactively learn and equip themselves with knowledge about important and practical laws in general, as well as labor laws in particular, right from their studies, through resources, courses, and participation in practical activities. It is important to master the basic regulations to protect their own rights.

"In particular, I want to emphasize that the preparation period for entering the labor market is the golden time for you to proactively learn more about labor law. This initiative not only helps you become more confident but also equips you with the ability to deal with legal issues that may arise," Mr. Nam emphasized.

MSc. Vo Ngoc Nhon - Deputy Director of the Admissions Consulting Center, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology - said that for employees, especially new graduates, understanding labor law not only shows professionalism, but also protects them from risks.

In addition, universities should actively support students through a number of activities such as including labor law and job-seeking skills in the curriculum, integrating real-life situations such as signing contracts, working overtime, and quitting jobs illegally... to help students easily access and apply.

In addition, the school organizes workshops with lawyers, HR experts and alumni to share practical experiences.

"All of these solutions aim at the common goal of equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect their rights, while demonstrating professionalism right from the first steps of their careers," Mr. Nhon emphasized.

The unavoidable responsibility of students

According to MSc. Dao Duy Khanh - social insurance expert, in the context of Gen Z gradually becoming the main labor force, proactively equipping knowledge about labor law is not only a right, but also an essential responsibility of every student.

Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, when the job market continuously sees many new models such as freelance, hybrid or gig economy, understanding and updating labor laws becomes even more urgent. Without knowledge, students can easily fall into unfavorable contracts, even encounter difficulties when disputes arise and reclaim their legitimate rights.

Besides, not having a good grasp of the law also makes students lose confidence when communicating and negotiating with employers - an important factor in deciding the start of their career.

"Understanding the law is not to make things difficult for anyone, but so that no one can easily make things difficult for you," Mr. Khanh emphasized.

Promoting legaleducation for final year students

MSc. Tran Nam - Head of Student Affairs Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - said that in order to equip students with not only professional knowledge but also a full understanding of rights and obligations in the working environment, the school has implemented many specific solutions.

These include integrating General Law into the curriculum, organizing seminars on labor law in civic activities at the beginning of the semester for final-year students, promoting programs to learn about legal knowledge, and encouraging students to proactively participate in internships at businesses.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ra-truong-di-lam-nhieu-sinh-vien-mu-mo-luat-lao-dong-20250418114621128.htm