Proposal to add preschool teachers to arduous, toxic and dangerous professions

According to voters in Binh Dinh province, the retirement age regulation for female preschool teachers (60 years old) is not suitable for reality, because their health, agility, professional operations... are difficult to meet the job requirements.

Voters proposed that the Government direct relevant ministries and branches to review and evaluate specific factors regarding the working conditions of preschool teachers and add them to the "list of arduous, toxic, and dangerous jobs and occupations...".

This allows this subject to enjoy retirement benefits at a lower age than workers under normal conditions according to the provisions of the Labor Code.

Voters in Yen Bai province proposed to consider adding preschool teachers to the group that can retire earlier than prescribed to ensure compliance with the specific nature of the job.

Why haven't preschool teachers entered this arduous, toxic profession...?

Responding to the opinions of voters in Binh Dinh province, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs stated that Circular 29/2021 specifically stipulates the addition of the list of arduous, toxic, dangerous jobs and occupations and especially arduous, toxic, dangerous jobs.

Specifically, the sector and industry management department reviews arduous, toxic, dangerous jobs and occupations and especially arduous, toxic, dangerous jobs and occupations in the sector and industry under management.

At the same time, consider the opinions of employers to propose amendments and supplements to the list of occupations in accordance with the socio-economic development, science, technology and management in each period, and send them to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

Circular 11/2020 stipulates that every year, ministries managing sectors and fields, and employers proactively review and evaluate the list of occupations according to the method prescribed by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to propose amendments and supplements to the list of occupations in accordance with the socio-economic development, science, technology and management in each period.

Based on the proposals of ministries, sectors and employers, the ministry stated that it will coordinate with ministries, sectors and agencies to review and evaluate the working conditions of preschool teachers' jobs and occupations to have a basis for reviewing, amending and supplementing the list of arduous, toxic and dangerous jobs and occupations and especially arduous, toxic and dangerous jobs and occupations according to regulations.

Also according to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, on December 15, 2022, the Ministry of Education and Training issued an official dispatch requesting to add to the list of occupations two groups of preschool teachers, equipment and laboratory staff, but did not send documents according to the above regulations, so there is no basis for consideration and addition to the list.

What jobs can you retire early in?

Regarding retirement age, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs stated that it had been discussed and unanimously approved in Resolution 28/2018 of the 7th Conference of the 12th Party Central Committee.

Institutionalizing the policy of increasing retirement age in Resolution 28, the National Assembly unanimously issued the 2019 Labor Code.

During the process of researching and developing the 2019 Labor Code, the issue of retirement age was discussed, debated, and evaluated thoroughly and comprehensively in all related aspects.

Therefore, the Labor Code stipulates that the adjustment to increase the retirement age or pension age conditions for employees is not immediately increased to 62 years old for men and 60 years old for women, but is adjusted according to a roadmap of increasing by only 3 months each year for male employees and 4 months for female employees.

In addition, the increase in retirement age has taken into account factors such as the nature, type of labor, and health of workers.

Workers doing especially arduous, toxic, or dangerous jobs; working in arduous, toxic, or dangerous jobs; working in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions; or workers with poor health (reduced ability to work).

These cases can retire at a lower age than those working in normal working conditions (retire up to 5 years or 10 years earlier, depending on the case).

In the coming time, based on the proposals of ministries, branches and localities, the Ministry will continue to coordinate research and review to amend and supplement the list of occupations to ensure good implementation of policies and regimes for workers, including employment as a basis for considering conditions on retirement age of workers.