Proposal for schools to manage students working overtime: Not feasible

Students work extra hours to help their families while studying at school as well as gain experience - Photo: HA QUAN

In recent days, the regulations governing students working overtime stated in the draft revised Law on Employment have received mixed opinions.

According to the draft chaired by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs , students of working age (15 years old or older) are allowed to work no more than 20 hours/week during the school term and no more than 48 hours/week during the holidays.

General education , higher education, vocational education or vocational education institutions are responsible for managing students working part-time.

The drafting agency warned that if young people indulge in overtime work, it could affect their studies and pose many potential risks related to fraud, labor exploitation, and social evils.

Commenting on the draft, the Ministry of Industry and Trade basically agreed with the draft revised Law on Employment, but said that the regulation requiring general education institutions, universities, vocational education institutions and institutions participating in vocational education activities to manage students working part-time is "not feasible".

The Ministry explained that educational institutions only manage students when they are studying at the unit, and do not have enough human resources to manage the part-time jobs of the above group of subjects.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Science and Technology said that the regulation that general education institutions, universities, vocational education institutions and institutions participating in vocational education activities are responsible for managing students working part-time during the holidays is "difficult to implement", because students are often not at school during the holidays.

Instead, this agency suggested that it only needs to stipulate that students working overtime are responsible for notifying the school.

"General education institutions, universities, vocational education institutions and institutions participating in vocational education activities shall promulgate regulations on managing students working during school terms and holidays," the document of the Ministry of Industry and Trade stated.

Some labor experts believe that minimum hourly wages should be applied as well as propaganda and awareness raising so that businesses such as cafes and restaurants can balance working hours for students instead of "rigid" regulations.

Currently, the hourly minimum wage is divided into 4 regions to protect workers. Accordingly, region 1 is 22,500 VND/hour, region 2 is 20,000 VND/hour, region 3 is 17,500 VND/hour and region 4 is 15,600 VND/hour.

In addition, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has proposed that the Government regulate the minimum hourly wage to increase by 6% from July 1, 2024. Specifically, region 1 is 23,800 VND/hour, region 2 is 21,200 VND/hour, region 3 is 18,600 VND/hour and region 4 is 16,600 VND/hour.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/de-xuat-truong-quan-ly-sinh-vien-lam-them-gio-khong-kha-thi-20240401165748756.htm