In September, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Department of Employment will launch a pilot of the national job exchange, a platform designed to connect labor supply and demand across Vietnam.

The initiative aims to streamline employment services and improve labor market efficiency nationwide.

In a related development concerning foreign labor, the department is also building an integrated database to manage information from immigration and entry to the issuance of work permits.

The information was announced on August 15 at a conference focused on the implementation of Government Decree No. 219/2025/NĐ-CP, which was issued on August 7, 2025. The decree governs foreign nationals working in Vietnam and introduces a series of reforms to existing procedures, processes, and the scope of applicability.

According to Mr. Vu Trong Binh, Director of the Department of Employment, the new decree simplifies administrative procedures, expands the list of exemptions for work permits, revises labor conditions, and introduces new provisions regarding decentralization and processing timelines.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Quyen stated that Decree 219/2025/NĐ-CP was issued to address longstanding challenges faced by businesses and foreign employees. By replacing and refining current regulations, the decree is seen as a significant step forward in increasing transparency, simplifying administrative processes, and promoting digital transformation in labor management.

One of the most notable changes is the reduction of processing time for foreign worker permit applications. Under the new rules, permits will be issued within 10 working days from the receipt of a complete and valid application.

During this period, authorities will simultaneously review the employer’s request to hire foreign labor and issue the work permit—combining what were previously two separate steps into a single streamlined process.