Country profile VNM
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5-17 | 5.171 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 6.247 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 5.693 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 6.359 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 7.555 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2021 | 5-17 | 6.94 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2016-05-04 | C182 | CEACR Observation; Decree No. 91/2011/ND-CP of 17 October 2011 | [{"link_name":"-CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:13100:0::NO::P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4020783,103004"},{"link_name":"-Decree No. 91/2011/ND-CP of 17 October 2011","source_link":"https://chinhphu.vn/default.aspx?pageid=27160&docid=151821"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | According to CEACR Observation published in 2021, Decree No. 91/2011/ND-CP of 17 October 2011 provides for penalties of fines for various cases of child labour, aimed at deterring the use of child labour in the country, including employing children in massage rooms, in casinos, bars, pubs or places that risk adversely affecting the development of the child, and employing children in certain illicit activities, such as the transport of illegal commodities. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2016-04-05; 2025-06-25 | C182 | Children Law - Articles 1, 4, 26, 28 ; Criminal Code - Section 147 | [{"link_name":"-Criminal Code","source_link":"https://www.derechos.org/intlaw/doc/vnm1.html"},{"link_name":"-2025 amendements to the Criminal Code","source_link":"https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Trach-nhiem-hinh-su/Luat-Bo-luat-Hinh-su-sua-doi-2025-so-86-2025-QH15-662377.aspx"},{"link_name":"-Children Law","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/103522/VNM103522%20Eng.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4397671,103004"}] | No | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Article 4 of the Children Law defines child exploitation as the "act of forcing the child to work against the law on labour, perform or produce pornographic products; organising or supporting tourist activities for the purpose of child sexual abuse; offering, adopting or supplying the child for prostitution and other acts of using the child for profiteering purposes". In parallel, Article 1 of the Children’s Law defines a child as any person under the age of 16. Articles 26 and 28 of the same Law respectively state that “children have the right to be protected, in any form, from labour exploitation” and that “children have the right to be protected, in any form, from trafficking, kidnapping, exchange, and appropriation.” Consequently, these provisions ensure protection only for children below the age of 16. Similarly, pursuant to section 147 of the 2015 Criminal Code, which has been amended and supplemented in 2017 and 2025, “any person aged 18 or over who persuades, entices, forces a person under 16 to participate in a pornographic performance or watch a pornographic performance in any shape or form shall face a penalty of 06 - 36 months imprisonment”. The Committee observes that the provisions of the 2015 Criminal Code do not appear to prohibit the use, procuring or offering of a child aged 16–18 for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances. In its Observation (CEACR) 2020 on C182, the committee writes that 'by virtue of Article 3(b) of the Convention, the use, procuring or offering of a child under 18 years for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances is considered as one of the worst forms of child labour, while section 147 of the Criminal Code only punishes persuading, enticing and forcing a person under 16 years to participate in a pornographic performance. The Committee therefore strongly urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the use, procuring or offering of a child under 18 years for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances is prohibited, by amending section 147 of the 2015 Criminal Code.' |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2016-05-04 | C182 | Children Law - Articles 1, 31 | [{"link_name":"Children Law","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/103522/VNM103522%20Eng.pdf"}] | No | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | Article 31 of the Children Law stipulates that "children have the right to all forms of special assistance and protection from impacts of [...] armed conflict". Article 1 of the Children Law defines a child as "a human being below the age of 16", thus only protecting children aged below 16 from impacts of armed conflicts. In addition, no reference was found on forced or compulsory recruitment. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2016-05-04 | C182 | Children Law - Articles 4, 26 and 28 | [{"link_name":"Children Law","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/103522/VNM103522%20Eng.pdf"}] | No | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | Article 4 defines child exploitation as the "act of forcing the child to work against the law on labour, perform or produce pornographic products; organising or supporting tourist activities for the purpose of child sexual abuse; offering, adopting or supplying the child for prostitution and other acts of using the child for profiteering purposes". Administrative sanctions for child labour are provided for by several decrees. In parallel, Article 1 of the Children’s Law defines a child as any person under the age of 16. Articles 26 and 28 of the same Law respectively state that “children have the right to be protected, in any form, from labour exploitation” and that “children have the right to be protected, in any form, from trafficking, kidnapping, exchange, and appropriation.” Consequently, these provisions ensure protection only for children below the age of 16. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2020-11-12 | C138 & C182 | Circular No. 09/2020/TTBLĐTBXH dated 12 November 2020 of the Minister of Labour - Article 9, Appendix III | [{"link_name":"Circular No. 09/2020/TTBLĐTBXH","source_link":"https://dcdn.dantri.com.vn/2022/12/07/thong-tu-092020-ve-lao-dong-chua-thanh-nien-1670383836407.pdf"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | Article 9 and Appendix III of the Circular establishe a list of prohibited jobs and workplaces for minors (individuals under 18 years old). It outlines the legal basis for these regulations, the responsibilities of employers, and the roles of various governmental bodies in enforcing these rules. The document includes detailed lists of specific job roles and environments where minors are not allowed to work due to health, safety, and ethical concerns. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2020-11-12 | C138 & C182 | Circular No. 09/2020/TTBLĐTBXH dated 12 November 2020 of the Minister of Labour | [{"link_name":"Circular No. 09/2020/TTBLĐTBXH","source_link":"https://dcdn.dantri.com.vn/2022/12/07/thong-tu-092020-ve-lao-dong-chua-thanh-nien-1670383836407.pdf"}] | 18 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | The circular establishes a list of prohibited jobs and workplaces for minors (individuals under 18 years old). |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2019-11-20 | C138 | Labour code - Article 61(4) | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/110469/VNM110469%20Eng.pdf"}] | 14 | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | According to Article 61(4) of the 2019 Labour Code, " every trainee and apprentice shall be at least 14 years of age and healthy enough for the traineeship or apprenticeship". |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2005-06-14 | C138 | Education Law - Articles 1, 26 | [{"link_name":"Education Law","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=84264"}] | Yes | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | Article 11 of the Education Law on the Universalisation of Education specifies that "primary education and lower secondary education are universal education levels" and that "all citizens within the defined age group shall have the obligation to learn in order to obtain the level of universalised education". Article 26 further specifies that: "1) Primary education is conducted in five years of schooling, from the first to the fifth grade. The age of commencement to the first class is 6"; "2) Lower secondary education is conducted in 4 years of schooling, from the 6th to the 9th grade. Pupils entering the 6th grade must complete the primary educational programme, at the age of 11". Effectively Vietnamese children will have completed compulsory education at the age of 15, which is in line with the minimum age for admission to work according to the Labour Code. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 2020-11-12 | C138 | Circular No. 09/2020/TTBLĐTBXH dated 12 November 2020 of the Minister of Labour - Article 8 and Apprendix II | [{"link_name":"Circular No. 09/2020/TTBLĐTBXH","source_link":"https://dcdn.dantri.com.vn/2022/12/07/thong-tu-092020-ve-lao-dong-chua-thanh-nien-1670383836407.pdf"}] | Yes | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | Article 8 and Appendix II of Circular No. 09/2020/TTBLĐTBXH provides for a list of work activities in which children under 13 years of age may be employed. |
| Minimum age for light work | 2019-11-20 | C138 | Labour code - Article 143 (3) | [{"link_name":"Labour code","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/110469/VNM110469%20Eng.pdf"}] | 13 | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | Article 143 (3) of the 2019 Labour Code mentions that "a person aged 13 to under 15 may only do the light works on the list promulgated by the Minister of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs." |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2019-11-20 | C138 | Labour code - Article 143 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/110469/VNM110469%20Eng.pdf"}] | 15 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | Article 143 of the Labour Code establishes that "a person aged 15 to under 18 must not be assigned any of the works or to any of the workplaces mentioned in Article 147 of this Labour Code". |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 24-JUN-2003 | Source |
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 19-DEC-2000 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In its Direct request (CEACR) on C138 of 2020 the committee notes that various activities carried out within the framework of the Programme to Prevent and Reduce Child Labour for the period of 2016 – 2020, include: (i) the development of guiding documents to implement the Law on child of 2016 regarding prevention and reduction of child labour; (ii) the awareness raising activities regarding children participating in economic activities, children at risk and child labour; (iii) capacity building activities and trainings for governmental officials, civil servants and social workers working in child protection and education at all levels ; and (iv) establishment of child protection systems in 43 out of 63 provinces. The Government also indicates that measures have been taken to ensure the monitoring, supervision and evaluation of the programme implementation at local level. Considering that the current Programme to Prevent and Reduce Child Labour expires in 2020, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the evaluation of its implementation, as well as the results achieved in terms of the number of children withdrawn from child labour. It also requests the Government to indicate if a new Programme is planned and to provide a copy once adopted. | [{"link_name":"Programme to Prevent and Reduce Child Labour","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4050125,103004:NO"}] | 2016 – 2020 | Programme to Prevent and Reduce Child Labour for the period of 2016 – 2020 | No information |