The HCM City Labour Federation organised a conference in HCM City where delegates offered various suggestions on the draft Law on Employment. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — Management of students' working hours, support for vulnerable workers, enhancing the workforce quality, and improving unemployment insurance are among the recommendations the HCM City Labour Federation received for the amendments proposed to the Law on Employment.

At a conference it organised to gather opinions on the amendments on April 1, Phạm Thị Hồng Yến, chairwoman of the Trade Union of Intel Vietnam Limited Liability Company (Thủ Đức City), said there needs to be close alignment with practical conditions.

There are many amendments related to unemployment insurance that are confusing or easily misunderstood, she pointed out.

Moreover, they should assess if someone is unemployment by choice to determine if they qualify for benefits and allow them to decide on their pension or unemployment insurance benefits.

Regarding the issues of salary, Yến said the purpose of evaluating and issuing national certificates is to serve as a basis for employers to recruit and enhance the skills and qualifications of labourers and to pay salary for them.

However, the provisions in the draft law are not really suitable.

There should be no restrictions on overtime hours to enable students to strike a balance between studying and working.

The amendments allow students of working age to work not more than 20 hours a week when they have classes, and 48 hours during holidays.

Bùi Ngọc Hân, a student at the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said being limited to 20 hours would be very challenging, since her family is classified as near-poor.

Dr Trần Đình Lý, vice president of the HCM City University of Agriculture and Forestry, said while the intention of the amendments is to help students focus on their studies, managing the issue would be difficult.

Tertiary education institutions often stipulate that students should not miss more than 20 percent of classes, he also pointed out.

So thorough research is needed to ensure compliance with the 2019 Labor Code and Education Law.

Trần Anh Kiệt, Trade Union chairman at Hitachi Zosen Vietnam Limited Liability Company in HCM City’s District 1, said the unemployment insurance policy has a number of shortcomings that need to be resolved quickly to ensure workers get unemployment benefits.

Current regulations are inadequate in terms of unemployment insurance, omitting workers who have contracts of one to less than three months, he said.

This is a group with a high risk of unemployment and should have compulsory social insurance, he pointed out.

Đặng Minh Sự of the HCM City Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs said to ensure consistency the amendments should dovetail with the Labour Code, Social Insurance Law and Criminal Code.

Other delegates suggested retaining unemployment benefits, adjusting some clauses in the amended Law on Employment to attract workers and providing support for people working in hazardous and harmful environments. — VNS