The Government of Vietnam recently enacted Decree No. 67/2025/ND-CP on March 15, 2025, modifying certain provisions of Decree No. 178/2024/ND-CP, which pertains to policies and regulations regarding civil servants, public employees, laborers, and armed forces in organizing the political system. The update aims to clarify the scope of affected entities under the revised decree, adapting to changes in administrative structures and enhancing the support for various groups within the public sector.
The new decree expands the range of entities covered, specifically detailing policies for individuals who retire early or are affected by organizational restructuring. To ensure equitable treatment, this set of amendments includes various incentives and support for those influenced by these changes.
One of the crucial additions includes the clarification of four groups of people eligible for benefits under the amended Decree 178. The first group encompasses civil servants and officials in leadership roles within specified organizations who express a desire to retire early to facilitate the smooth restructuring of personnel. The second covers public employees and armed force personnel nearing retirement age with under five years until retirement, exempt from direct influences of administrative changes but subjected to personnel reductions and restructuring.
The third group addresses individuals working on state payrolls in organizations tasked by the government, particularly those undergoing major administrative changes. Lastly, the fourth group consists of officials unable to meet the age criteria for reappointment or election during the forthcoming terms.
Decree No. 67/2025/ND-CP also introduces a newly defined "salary preservation coefficient" intended to guarantee the rights of public employees when retiring. This measure stipulates that the monthly salary prior to retirement will include allowances based on their positions, seniority, and other responsibility allowances, thereby securing a fair compensation reflecting their service duration.
Another vital part of the decree pertains to policies for early retirees due to organizational restructuring. According to the modifications, individuals retiring early for these reasons will benefit from significant financial support. Specifically, those with at least 15 years of service who are qualified for pensions are entitled to a one-time bonus equivalent to four months of their current salary during their first 15 years of service. After 15 years, for each additional year worked, they will receive half a month's salary.
Additionally, the decree revises funding regulations for social benefits concerning public employees and laborers. The decree indicates that public organizations responsible for their operational costs through services or other legal income will utilize these revenues to fulfill their obligations regarding benefits. When there’s insufficient funding from these revenues, supplementary support from the government budget is authorized to meet policy requirements.
Notably, the decree eliminates previous regulations concerning additional local support for affected groups, thereby centralizing the provisions to mitigate disparities across various municipalities. Nevertheless, those who received local benefits before March 15, 2025, are to retain those benefits.
Furthermore, the decree lays out transitional provisions specifying that individuals currently resolving benefits due to organizational changes can continue to apply the rules established in the previous decree until any official changes take effect.
These measures stand to create a more equitable environment for public employees facing organizational shifts, highlighting the government's commitment to enhancing the welfare of civil servants and maintaining the quality of public service. Overall, Decree No. 67/2025/ND-CP marks a significant shift towards increasing support for public sector employees amid ongoing restructuring efforts.
