Do private school teachers in Vietnam receive pensions? Answer from DEDICA
Mr. Nam, a recent graduate in pedagogy from Binh Duong, has just completed his university program and is now at a career crossroads. He is choosing between applying to a public school or trying his hand at a modern private language center that is actively recruiting. What concerns him most is whether teaching at a private school would allow him to receive a retirement pension. He shared: “I’ve heard that only teachers at public schools get social insurance and retirement pensions. Is that true?”
Do only public school teachers receive pensions?
According to the legal team at DEDICA, the answer is no.
In fact, whether a person is eligible for a pension does not depend on whether they work in the public or private sector, but on whether they participate in the social insurance system according to legal requirements.
Private schools are still required to contribute to social insurance
According to the Law on Social Insurance, any employee who signs a labor contract of at least one month—regardless of whether they work for a public institution or a private company—must participate in the mandatory social insurance system. Therefore, if Mr. Nam signs an employment contract with a private school such as an international school, semi-public school, or language center, the school is responsible for registering and contributing to his social insurance. Once he accumulates enough years of contributions and reaches retirement age as prescribed, he will be entitled to a retirement pension just like anyone else.
What are the conditions for receiving a pension?
According to current law and the amended Social Insurance Law 2024, which will take effect from July 1, 2025, the conditions include:
Minimum contribution period: Currently 20 years. From July 1, 2025, it will be reduced to 15 years.
Retirement age: From 2025, the retirement age will increase gradually. For men, it will be 61 years and 3 months. For women, 56 years and 8 months. The age will continue to increase by 3 months annually until reaching the legal threshold.
Pension rate: Monthly pension is calculated based on the average salary on which social insurance was paid. The rate ranges from 45% to a maximum of 75%. Those who meet the minimum contribution period will receive 45%, and an additional 2% is added for each extra year of contributions.
In summary, if Mr. Nam signs a formal labor contract and participates in social insurance as required, his retirement rights will be fully protected.
Why do many people believe private school teachers are not entitled to pensions?
In practice, DEDICA has found this misunderstanding stems from the fact that some private educational institutions do not sign official labor contracts or avoid their social insurance obligations. As a result, many teachers only realize they lack a contribution history when they leave the job years later.
Therefore, when choosing an employer, Mr. Nam should focus not on whether the institution is public or private, but whether it complies with labor laws. Signing a valid contract and being registered for full social insurance contributions is key to securing future benefits.
Advice from DEDICA for Mr. Nam and young educators
The right to retirement is a fundamental labor right protected by law, regardless of workplace type. However, to exercise this right, employees must participate fully in the social insurance system.
Thus, when selecting a workplace, prioritize institutions with clear commitments to social, health, and unemployment insurance, as well as other benefits. If the employer does not offer social insurance, consider enrolling in the voluntary insurance scheme to build up your contribution years.
If needed, Mr. Nam can visit the Social Insurance Office to verify his contributions or ask DEDICA for support in reviewing and planning a suitable retirement strategy.
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