Legislators discuss law revisions to better support Vietnam's overseas workers

The draft amendments to the Law on Vietnamese Guest Workers under Contract aim to strengthen the legal framework and promote decentralisation, science and technology application, digital transformation and the shift from a pre-approval to a post-approval inspection approach while addressing shortcomings in the current law.

A plenary discussion during the first extraordinary session of the 16th National Assembly (Photo: VNA)
A plenary discussion during the first extraordinary session of the 16th National Assembly (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Lawmakers on the morning of August 5 are scheduled to listen to proposals and verification reports on five draft laws as part of the first extraordinary session of the 16th National Assembly.

The bills include the revised Law on Grassroots Mediation; the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Vietnamese Guest Workers under Contract; the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Publishing; the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Architecture; and the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on the State Bank of Vietnam, the Law on Anti-Money Laundering and the Law on Credit Institutions.

The legislators will then hold group discussions on the draft revised Law on Grassroots Mediation, the draft law on amendments and supplementations to a number of articles of the Law on Publishing, and the draft law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Vietnamese Guest Workers under Contract.

The draft amendments to the Law on Vietnamese Guest Workers under Contract aim to strengthen the legal framework and promote decentralisation, science and technology application, digital transformation and the shift from a pre-approval to a post-approval inspection approach while addressing shortcomings in the current law.

The draft focuses on revising the provisions on state management authority, delegating responsibilities to local administrations, simplifying administrative procedures and business conditions, replacing approval requirements with notification procedures for certain activities, refining legal definitions and rules on prohibited acts, shortening processing times, expanding electronic procedures and introducing measures to improve governance while safeguarding the rights and lawful interests of Vietnamese citizens working overseas under contract.

In the afternoon, lawmakers will debate in plenary session two draft laws – the law on amendments and supplementations to Article 6 and Appendix IV on the list of conditional business sectors and lines under the Law on Investment, and amendments to the Law on Customs.

The draft law amending and supplementing some articles of the Law on Customs comprise four articles, including revisions and supplementations to 15 provisions to align with the functions, responsibilities and titles under the new state apparatus structure.

The bill also authorises the Ministry of Finance to issue detailed regulations on customs procedures and customs supervision for goods exported and imported through postal and express delivery services.

It further revises Article 58 to require operators of ports and bonded warehouses to destroy environmentally hazardous goods when the owner of the transport vehicle, its operator or an authorised representative cannot be identified, with customs authorities responsible for supervising the destruction process./.

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At the NA Standing Committee's session on August 4. (Photo: VNA)

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ASEAN ambassadors in Beijing and the Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre pose for a group photo. (Photo:VNA)

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (L) and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (Photo: VNA)

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Reports, articles and assessments published on August 12-13 highlighted that Vietnam-New Zealand relations are shifting strongly from high-level political commitments to concrete cooperation programmes, with a focus on trade, investment, education, agriculture, science and technology, defence and security, and climate change response.

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 13

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 13

Activities during Party General Secretary and President To Lam's state visit to New Zealand, a ceremony marking the 100th birth anniversary of Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Quang Tri, and a series of expos opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre are among news highlights on August 13.

Party General Secretary and President To Lam leaves Auckland on August 13 evening (local time), concluding a state visit to New Zealand. (Photo: VNA)

Party General Secretary, President To Lam concludes state visit to New Zealand

At the meetings during the visit, the two sides agreed to further strengthen political trust and advance bilateral relations comprehensively by stepping up high-level and all-level exchanges through Party, State, parliamentary and people-to-people channels, thereby making more effective use of existing policy dialogue mechanisms.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam (R) meets with Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee in Auckland on August 13 (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader meets with New Zealand House Speaker

Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee welcomed the state visit by the Vietnamese leader and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, stressing that it will further deepen the Vietnam–New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across various fields, ushering bilateral ties into a new, more profound, substantive and effective phase.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon witness the exchange of cooperation agreements between the two countries on August 13, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam - New Zealand joint statement

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (left) and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at their talks in Auckland on August 13 (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader holds talks with New Zealand Prime Minister

Welcoming General Secretary and President Lam and the Vietnamese delegation, New Zealand PM Luxon said the visit marked an important milestone in strengthening bilateral ties after more than half a century. He affirmed Vietnam is an important partner of New Zealand and expressed his impression at the Southeast Asian country’s remarkable achievements, including its strong economic growth.

☀️ Morning digest on August 13

☀️ Morning digest on August 13

Party General Secretary and President To Lam's meeting with Vietnamese Embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in New Zealand, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's receptions for the Singaporean and Israeli ambassadors, and the 8th Vietnam–Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting are among news highlights on August 12 evening.