Recently, I have heard many people mention that, starting from September 10, it will be mandatory to notify the commune-level People’s Committee when hiring a domestic worker.
Since failure to provide such notification in accordance with the regulations may result in a penalty, I am quite concerned, as I intend to hire a domestic worker in the near future.
Could you please explain the procedure for notifying the commune-level People’s Committee?
Reader Kim Dung
Legal advice:
The provision imposing a fine of VND 1 million to VND 3 million on an employer who fails to notify the commune-level People's Committee when employing a domestic worker is not a new regulation. Currently, this matter is governed by Point a, Clause 2, Article 30 of Decree 12/2022/NĐ-CP. (Furthermore, Point a, Clause 2, Article 28 of Decree 283/2026/NĐ-CP—which will take effect on September 10, 2026—maintains this same requirement as established in Decree 12/2022/NĐ-CP.)Employers must notify the commune-level People’s Committee when employing a domestic worker, using Form No. 02/PLV (provided in Appendix V, issued with Decree 145/2020/NĐ-CP), within 10 days from the date the employment contract is signed.
Furthermore, pursuant to Clause 4, Article 89 of Decree 145/2020/NĐ-CP, employers are required to pay domestic workers—alongside their regular wages—an additional amount equivalent to the employer’s mandatory social and health insurance contributions (as stipulated by laws on social and health insurance). This is intended to enable the domestic worker to independently enroll in social and health insurance schemes.
Note: According to Clause 1, Article 161 of the 2019 Labor Code, a "domestic worker" is defined as an individual who performs regular household tasks for one or more households. Such tasks include housekeeping, managing a household, childcare, caring for the sick or elderly, driving, gardening, and other household-related duties that are not associated with commercial activities.
Consequently, hiring someone for occasional house cleaning or tidying—whether on an hourly, per-session, or daily basis (without employing them on a regular, ongoing basis)—does not qualify the individual as a "domestic worker." Therefore, in such cases, the employer is not required to notify the commune-level People’s Committee.