Vietnam’s Ministry of Home Affairs has issued Circular 27/2026/TT-BNV, outlining a full list of jobs with strict occupational safety and health requirements. The circular, effective from January 1, 2027, replaces the previous regulations under Circular No. 06/2020/TT-BLDTBXH.
Key Jobs with Enhanced Safety Standards
The new regulations cover a wide range of occupations, including manufacturing, construction, and chemical handling. Workers involved in the operation and maintenance of heavy machinery, such as dredging vessels and concrete mixers, are now subject to stricter safety protocols. Similarly, jobs in hazardous environments, like confined spaces, heights, and areas with toxic gases, require enhanced safety measures.
The circular also addresses roles in high-risk industries, such as mining, exploration, and extraction. Workers in these sectors must adhere to stringent safety standards to mitigate potential risks. Additionally, jobs involving direct contact with hazardous materials, including chemicals, explosives, and nuclear radiation, are now under closer scrutiny.
Specific High-Risk Tasks and Environments
The circular details tasks involving direct operation, maintenance, and repair of various machinery and equipment, including power hammers, dredging vessels, and concrete processing machines. It also covers work with grinding, sawing, and milling machines, as well as metalworking operations like welding and cutting. Additionally, tasks such as mold making, smelting, and casting are included, along with work in areas of rotary kilns, furnaces, and combustion chambers.
Workers performing tasks at heights of 2 meters or more, on mobile platforms, or in precarious locations are subject to enhanced safety measures. This includes work on roofs, slopes, and slipways, as well as tasks performed on rivers, at sea, or on offshore platforms. Diving and diving supervision, along with the operation and repair of machinery in ship holds, are also covered. The circular addresses exposure to ionizing radiation, radioactivity, and nuclear radiation; operation of scanning, irradiation, and imaging equipment using nuclear radiation or electromagnetic fields; exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields at frequencies of 3 kHz or higher; and work involving maritime communication and control equipment.
Other high-risk tasks include research, manufacture, and assembly of electronic components; direct research, manufacture, production, and processing of semiconductor materials, nanomaterials, and high-tech materials. Geological and marine field surveys; mineral and oil and gas surveying, exploration, extraction, and processing are also listed. Work in confined spaces, such as basements, tunnels, tanks, wells, sewers, underground structures, storage tanks, and cold storage facilities; operation and maintenance of gas pipelines; and industrial cleaning are covered.
Implementation and Responsibilities
Provincial People’s Committees are tasked with disseminating the circular and ensuring its implementation within their respective localities. The Department of Employment will oversee communication, guidance, and monitoring of the new regulations. Employers shall determine jobs subject to strict requirements at their agencies, organizations and units in order to provide occupational safety and health training for persons performing such jobs in accordance with law.
In a departure from previous regulations, the circular explicitly excludes Vietnamese guest workers from its scope. This distinction highlights the government’s focus on protecting domestic workers in high-risk occupations.
Each category includes specific tasks and environments that require enhanced safety measures, reflecting the government’s commitment to worker protection. For example, medical examination and treatment, and care of patients and persons with severe or particularly severe disabilities in medical, social relief, and nursing establishments are subject to strict requirements for occupational safety and health.
The regulations also extend to entertainment and sports, covering jobs like circus performers and professional athletes. These roles, often associated with high physical risk, now have specific safety requirements to minimize injuries. For example, gymnasts and martial artists must train in facilities that meet safety standards and use appropriate protective gear.
The list of jobs subject to strict safety requirements includes direct operation of production and processing of beer, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, tobacco, cooking oil, confectionery, and milk, excluding households that do not hire workers. This highlights the government’s focus on protecting workers in the food and beverage industry, where exposure to hazardous materials and heavy machinery is common.
