At the 14th National Congress of Vietnam Trade Unions, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL) proposed that competent authorities comprehensively amend the 2019 Labor Code. A key amendment seeks to mandate employer responsibility for mental health care, stress reduction, and burnout prevention for workers, particularly in high-pressure settings.
Ngo Duy Hieu, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, stated that this proposal stems from numerous worker complaints about prolonged stress and difficulty disconnecting from work. He noted that workplace burnout prevention is regulated or legalized in many countries and has been repeatedly addressed by international organizations like the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Hieu explained that technology, while offering flexibility, often leads to constant work connectivity. Insufficient rest and recovery can lead to mental exhaustion, prolonged insomnia, and other adverse effects. Therefore, worker welfare should encompass not only physical health and rights but also mental well-being.
"Increasing public holidays and reducing working hours are also solutions to alleviate worker pressure and stress," he said. The Trade Union organization also proposed incorporating flexible work arrangements, combining in-person and online methods, to align with digital transformation and new requirements following administrative unit reorganization.
The current Labor Code outlines working hours, overtime, and rest. However, managing after-hours work, a key factor in 24/7 work connectivity, largely relies on employer-employee agreements.
According to the International Labor Organization, psychosocial workplace risks contribute to over 840,000 work-related deaths globally each year. Additionally, 35% of global workers regularly exceed 48-hour workweeks, and 18% have faced psychological workplace violence.
Several nations now recognize the "right to disconnect," enabling workers to decline after-hours work without penalty or discrimination. This policy aims to protect mental health, maintain work-life boundaries, and limit burnout risk in the "24/7 connectivity era."
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780 delegates representing over 10 million union members and workers nationwide attended the 14th National Congress of Trade Unions in Hanoi. Photo: Hoang Phong. |
780 delegates representing over 10 million union members and workers nationwide attended the 14th National Congress of Trade Unions in Hanoi. Photo: Hoang Phong.
Hong Chieu
