The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) not only strives to create a fair, transparent, and inclusive working environment for its faculty and staff, but also places particular emphasis on protecting the labour rights and decent work conditions of employees from external service providers who operate within the University.

Commitment to Labour Law Compliance and Protection of Workers’ Rights

UEH has established comprehensive internal and external social policies ensuring that both in-house staff and outsourced workers enjoy equivalent rights, equal pay, and access to safe work environments. The University requires all third-party service providers (outsourcing), including security, cleaning, cafeteria, and other support enterprises, to comply fully with the Labour Code of Viet Nam and relevant national public policies on employment, economic productivity, and decent work for all.

All outsourcing contracts explicitly state UEH’s guiding principle of “respect for and compliance with national and international labour standards”. Contractors must guarantee that their employees receive legal entitlements in accordance with the Vietnamese Labour Code, including provisions on wages, insurance, working hours, and occupational safety. A notable example is the partnership agreement between UEH and Swinburne University of Technology (Australia) in service provision for students, in which UEH affirms its commitment to prohibit child labour, uphold gender equality, and strictly comply with international conventions on labour rights and forced labour prevention. Such commitments strengthen UEH’s corporate social responsibility, enhance transparency, and demonstrate alignment with sustainable economic growth and global resource efficiency objectives under SDG 8.

Through these mechanisms, UEH ensures that outsourced employees receive fair and secure work conditions, while reinforcing institutional credibility, ethical governance, and accountability toward both local and international partners in inclusive economic development.

Policy on Wages and Working Conditions

UEH currently cooperates with multiple service providers offering cleaning and security services across its affiliated campuses. The university strictly complies with all national regulations on prohibited labour practices as stipulated in Article 8 of the Labour Code No. 45/2019/QH14. All workers employed at UEH, including outsourced personnel, are guaranteed the following rights and protections:

+ There is no discrimination in employment.

+ Workers are not mistreated or subjected to forced labor.

+ Sexual harassment in the workplace is strictly prohibited.

+ The name of vocational training shall not be misused for self-interest, exploitation, or coercion of trainees into illegal activities.

+ Untrained labor or those without a national occupational skills certificate are not employed in occupations requiring such qualifications.

+ No deceitful recruitment practices such as false advertising, coercion, or trafficking are tolerated for the purposes of exploitation, forced labor, or illegal activities related to employment or overseas work.

+ The employment of minors in violation of legal regulations is strictly forbidden.

During the contractor-selection and contract-signing process, UEH requires all service partners to guarantee full compliance with these standards and to provide:

+ Payment of wages not lower than the statutory regional minimum wage, ensuring decent income and well-paid jobs;

+ Participation in compulsory social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance schemes;

+ Access to statutory benefits such as annual leave, public holidays, maternity and sick leave, and occupational protection;

+ A safe, non-discriminatory, harassment-free working environment, upholding human dignity and equality.

By applying these strict standards, UEH ensures that all workers, including those employed through outsourcing enterprises, enjoy stable employment, fair compensation, and protection of labour rights equivalent to internal staff. This contributes to productive employment, job creation, and inclusive economic growth within the University ecosystem.

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Cleaning staff, security guards, and workers employed by third-party service providers are entitled to fair and equivalent benefits at UEH

Monitoring and enforcement mechanisms

UEH has established dedicated internal units, including the Human Resources and Organisation Development Department, the University Office, and the Department of Facilities Management, to directly monitor and ensure the compliance of service contracts signed with third-party partners. On a quarterly basis, UEH requires all service providers to submit payroll records and lists of employees covered under social insurance (SI), health insurance (HI), and unemployment insurance (UI) for verification. As a result, the average wage of outsourced workers was higher than the regional minimum wage in Ho Chi Minh City, with all employees covered by social insurance, and 95% of outsourced workers participating in occupational safety training programs.

Annually, the University conducts anonymous surveys among outsourced workers to assess their satisfaction levels and the protection of their labour rights. During the period 2023–2024, UEH recorded zero cases of labour rights violations or contract breaches by its outsourcing partners. 

Building a fair and sustainable working environment

By maintaining clear, consistent, and transparent principles, UEH not only safeguards the welfare and labour rights of its internal employees but also promotes better working conditions, social equity, and quality jobs for all workers within its institutional ecosystem. The University believes that a fair, respectful, and inclusive work environment forms the foundation for sustainable development, where every individual — whether directly employed or contracted through third-party partners, is treated fairly, safely, and with dignity.

Open related links: 

1. December 4, 2024 – UEH’s gender-equal recruitment policy and welfare regime – https://future.ueh.edu.vn/en/uncategorized/8-2-6-chinh-sach-binh-dang-luong/ 

2. November 20, 2019 – Vietnam labour code 2019 – https://vietanlaw.com/vietnam-labour-code-2019/