Businesses concerned about overtime hour draft law

Businesses and experts are still concerned over the impact on production of overtime hours that are not increased for seasonal jobs.
Businesses concerned about overtime hour draft law ảnh 1Workers make shoes at the Taiwan-invested My Phong Shoes and Leather Company in TraVinh Province.
(Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Businesses and experts are still concerned overthe impact on production of overtime hours that are not increased for seasonaljobs.

Do Thuy Huong, a representative of the Vietnam Electronic Industry Association,said electronics was an industry that had applied advanced technologies.

“However, machines could not replace humans,” she said.

At some times, businesses needed labourers to work overtime, while there wereother periods employees had to be sent home due to a lack of orders, she said.

Huong suggested not limiting the number of overtime hours by week or month, butby year as a range of foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises, accountingfor a large proportion of exports, had violated regulations on overtime hours.

Chu Van An, deputy head of Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, said the shrimp andfish sectors and agriculture in general were seasonal.

During the shrimp harvest season, if the factory received all local farmers’shrimp to process, it would violate regulations on overtime hours, he added,online newspaper Cafef.vn reported.

If a business violated regulations on overtime hours, partners would not buyits products, An said.

He also said businesses were not interested in letting labourers work overtime,because they had to pay 150-300 per cent extra for each overtime hour,depending on the overtime work on a normal day or holiday, while the price ofproducts that businesses sold to customers was fixed.

An said there were 3-5 months each year the shrimp sector needed labourers towork overtime, in other months, labourers even worked only five hours per day.

The corporation has four shrimp processing factories. To run the factories atfull capacity, they need about 20,000 labourers, however, they only have about13,000 labourers. Therefore, An suggested increasing to a maximum of 500overtime hours each year and not limiting overtime by month.

Bui Sy Loi, vice chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for SocialAffairs, said the draft revised Labour Code has two options for overtime. Thefirst was to stick with current regulations – a maximum of 300 overtime hoursper year. The second option was to allow 400 overtime hours per year for fivespecial sectors, namely garments, textiles, seafood, leather shoes andelectronics.

Loi said he supported the option of increasing overtime hours to 400 each yearfor five special sectors. But it should be a voluntary agreement between theemployer and employees to ensure the health of labourers.

“In a country where labour productivity is not high, wages are rising fasterthan labour productivity, we need to calculate carefully,” he said.

This revised law also raised the question of creating a law to boost labourproductivity, he said.

Former deputy minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Minh Huan saiddebates over overtime hour were not new and there were always two contraryopinions every time the law was revised.

This time, the draft suggested increasing overtime hours to 400 each year forsome special sectors. However, some National Assembly deputies did not agreewith, he said.

“It will cause difficulties for businesses because the characteristics of somesectors such as seafood and textiles are seasonal,” he said.

The revised Labour Code is expected to be voted on November 20 by NationalAssembly deputies./.
VNA

See more

Bounthong Chitmany, Politburo member, Permanent Member of the Secretariat of the LPRP Central Committee, and Vice President of Laos, grants an interview to the VNA. (Photo: VNA)

VNA strengthens Vietnam-Laos relationship through media cooperation

The VNA bureau, along with other Vietnamese media agencies operating in Laos, plays a key role in disseminating the policies and laws of both countries to the international community. This effort helps to not only attract foreign investment for mutual development but also reinforce the deep-rooted ties between the two countries.

Candidates at a Vietnamese proficiency test. (Photo: VNA)

Language test helps promote Vietnamese in Japan

Contestants included university students majoring in Vietnamese, translators, and professionals working in Vietnamese-related fields, as well as those with a keen interest in Vietnam, its people, and especially its cuisine.

About 90-100% of labourers in Bac Giang province come back to work after Tet holiday. (Photo: VNA)

Labour market to see changes in key industries

In order to make up for the shortages caused by resignations or job changes in the last months of the year, businesses typically hire extra employees. For job seekers, particularly those with specialised talents or experience, the labour market is now opening up a wide range of choices.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung (left) and head of the Vietnamese delegation Phan Thi Minh Giang at the conference. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam actively contributes to GCM review conference

Deputy Director of the Consular Department Phan Thi Minh Giang highlighted Vietnam’s achievements in three key areas: refining migration policies and laws, improving data collection, and enhancing international cooperation for safe and legal migration channels.

Many motorists now adhere to regulations voluntarily. (Photo: VNA)

Traffic violations decrease under Decree 168

A notable reduction has been recorded in the number of violations handled over the past month compared to the previous period, reflecting an increased sense of responsibility among road users.

Party General Secretary To Lam offers incence at the graves of martyrs at the Vi Xuyen national martyrs’ cemetery. in Ha Giang province on February 5. (Photo: VNA)

Party chief offers incense to martyrs in Ha Giang

Party General Secretary To Lam and his entourage observed a moment of silence, offering flowers and incense to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers at the Vi Xuyen national martyrs’ cemetery in the northern province of Ha Giang on February 5.