Current law stipulates that some social insurance (BHXH) benefits are calculated based on a reference level. Before the abolition of the base salary, this reference level is set equal to the base salary, which will be 2,53 million VND per month from 1/7. Several benefits, including those for female workers, will also be adjusted accordingly.

One-time allowance up to 5,06 million VND

According to regulations, the one-time allowance for female workers giving birth, surrogate mothers, those using surrogacy, or adopting a child under six months old is two times the reference level. From 1/7, this amount increases from 4,68 million VND to 5,06 million VND.

This allowance applies to workers who have paid mandatory social insurance for at least six months within the 12 months immediately preceding childbirth or adoption. It also applies to those who have paid mandatory social insurance for at least 12 months before giving birth or acting as a surrogate, and who had to take prenatal leave as prescribed, provided they paid for at least three months within the 12 months immediately preceding birth. Furthermore, it covers individuals who paid mandatory social insurance for at least six months within the 24 months immediately preceding birth and had to take time off for infertility treatment.

If a female worker gives birth but does not meet the above conditions, her husband is entitled to a one-time allowance if he has paid mandatory social insurance for at least six months within the 12 months immediately preceding the child's birth.

Children participate in a marathon in Ha Long, 5/2025. *Quynh Tran*

Maternity benefits increase based on social insurance contributions

For public sector workers, the salary used for social insurance contributions is based on their position, rank, grade, military rank, and any applicable allowances for position, seniority, profession, and retained salary differentials. As the base salary increases, the social insurance contribution amount also rises, leading to higher benefits for female workers.

The monthly maternity allowance is 100% of the salary used for mandatory social insurance contributions for the six months immediately preceding the start of maternity leave.

For example, if a female worker contributes social insurance based on a salary of 10 million VND per month, the total maternity allowance for six months of leave will be 60 million VND.

The daily allowance for prenatal check-ups is calculated by dividing one month's maternity allowance by 24 days. During pregnancy, female workers are entitled to a maximum of five days off for prenatal examinations, with each instance not exceeding two days. The total time off throughout the entire pregnancy should not exceed 10 days.

For example, if a female worker's social insurance contribution salary is 10 million VND per month, her maternity allowance will be the same. Her prenatal check-up allowance will be over 416,000 VND per day, totaling a maximum of 4,166 million VND throughout the pregnancy.

The post-maternity recovery and health restoration benefit is calculated at 30% of the reference level. From 1/7, this amount increases to 759,000 VND, up from 702,000 VND previously.

Female workers giving birth to a second child get seven months maternity leave, husbands get 10 days

From 1/7, female workers giving birth to a second child will receive seven months of maternity leave, while male workers will receive 10 working days off when their wife gives birth. The condition is that there is one living biological child at the time of birth.

The revised social insurance law, effective from 7/2025, has expanded maternity benefits for mandatory male contributors, allowing them 60 days of leave from their wife's childbirth, instead of the previous 30 days. Employees can take leave multiple times, provided the total number of days does not exceed the regulation and the last period of leave falls within the first 60 days after childbirth.

The national birth rate is declining below the replacement level, from 2,11 children per woman in 2021 to 1,91 children per woman in 2024, and 1,93 children per woman in 2025. With such low birth rates, Vietnam is projected to struggle to achieve its goal of maintaining the national replacement birth rate by 2030.

Population policies are undergoing several changes aimed at four major objectives: maintaining the replacement birth rate, reducing gender imbalance at birth, adapting to population aging, and improving population quality.

Hong Chieu