Unemployment insurance: A social security support for unemployed workers

Workers participating in unemployment insurance (UI) when losing their jobs not only receive cash benefits to cover their living expenses but also receive support in finding jobs and vocational training...

According to the 2013 Law on Employment, the unemployment insurance policy includes 4 regimes, including: Employees are guided and consulted for free about labor and employment as well as receive free vocational training and instructions on procedures to benefit from unemployment insurance by job placement centers; are registered for unemployment and submit documents to receive unemployment benefits when losing their jobs or when terminating their employment contracts; are allowed to use health insurance cards issued by social insurance (SI) without having to pay fees during the period of receiving unemployment benefits; are supported with free elementary vocational training for a period of no more than 6 months at vocational training facilities. In addition, businesses and employers are also supported by not having to pay 1% of SI for 12 months for employees.

Workers work at a business in Krong Pac district.

The monthly unemployment benefit is equal to 60% of the average monthly salary for unemployment insurance contributions of the 6 consecutive months before unemployment, but not exceeding 5 times the basic salary for employees subject to the salary regime prescribed by the State; or not exceeding 5 times the regional minimum wage as prescribed by the Labor Code for employees paying unemployment insurance according to the salary regime decided by the employer at the time of termination of the labor contract or employment contract.

The period of unemployment benefits is calculated based on the number of months of social insurance contributions. For every 12 months of contributions up to 36 months, you will receive 3 months of unemployment benefits; after that, for every additional 12 months of contributions, you will receive 1 more month, but not exceeding 12 months. Within 3 months from the date of termination of the employment relationship, if needed, employees can submit an application for unemployment benefits at any Employment Service Center (under the Department of Home Affairs) of 63 provinces and cities.

According to statistics from the Dak Lak Employment Service Center, in March 2025, the whole province had 1,127 people applying for unemployment benefits, nearly double that of February; the cumulative number in the first 3 months of 2025 was 2,145 people.

Provincial Social Insurance officers handle administrative procedures for participants.

After about 10 days of submitting an application for unemployment benefits last March, Mr. TQ (Tan Thanh Ward, Buon Ma Thuot City) was informed by an employee of the Dak Lak Employment Service Center that his application had been approved and that he would come to sign for unemployment benefits at the end of April with an amount of more than 2.6 million VND/month, for a period of 12 months. Mr. Q. said that he had worked in construction enterprises for nearly 20 years and had fully paid compulsory social insurance. In early 2025, because the company he was working for stopped operating, he quit his job and completed the procedures to apply for unemployment insurance. The monthly amount received is not large, but it has helped ease some of the difficulties while waiting to find a new job.

According to the provincial Social Insurance, in 2024, the unit paid unemployment benefits to 11,642 people, an increase of 2% over the same period in 2023; paid vocational training support to 883 people, an increase of 163% over the same period in 2023; the total amount paid from the Unemployment Insurance Fund was over 202 billion VND.

It can be said that in difficult economic times, unemployment insurance is considered a "lifesaver" to solve many difficulties for employees; this is a regime that partially compensates employees' income when they lose their jobs. In fact, thanks to support policies from the Unemployment Insurance Fund, many employees have overcome economic difficulties, solved the employment problem to create stable income, thereby contributing to stabilizing the labor market and ensuring social security.

Currently, the unemployment insurance contribution rate is 2% of monthly salary, including 1% paid by the employee and 1% paid by the employer. The procedure for receiving unemployment insurance benefits is very simple, employees can submit their application online or go directly to the Dak Lak Employment Service Center or one of the Center's two representative offices located in Ea Kar district and Buon Ho town.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202504/bao-hiem-that-nghiep-diem-tua-an-sinh-cho-lao-dong-mat-viec-lam-a5c1b7e/