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Decree 337/2025/ND-CP promulgated
Vietnam Decree 337 mandates electronic labour contracts by 2026
Decree No. 337/2025/ND-CP, issued on 24 December 2025 and effective from 1 January 2026, establishes the framework for electronic labour contracts and the National Electronic Labour Contract Platform. From 1 July 2026, electronic labour-contract data is managed through the platform. The platform issues an electronic labour-contract identification code within 24 hours after it receives valid data; this processing period should not be presented as a universal employer submission deadline measured from the last signature.
Decree effective date
NELCP platform launches — signing rules apply
Platform processing time after valid data is received
The four-layer legal framework
Vietnam's electronic labour contract compliance system rests on four legal instruments. Each layer addresses a different aspect — from top-level recognition of digital signatures to platform-level operational rules.
Top-level legislation. Gives digital signatures the same legal effect as paper signatures. Effective July 1, 2024 — this is the foundation that makes electronic labour contracts judicially recognised.
The implementing rules. Five chapters, thirty articles covering the full contract lifecycle: creation, identity verification, digital signature, timestamp binding, and platform synchronisation. Signing rules apply from July 1, 2026.
Personal data protection. All electronic contract processes involving employee personal data must comply with Vietnamese data protection rules — storage, access, security, and cross-border transfer.
Establishes the NELCP national platform under Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) supervision. Promulgated October 2024 — the operational backbone for contract registration and verification.
What changes without NELCP registration
Contracts signed electronically but not synchronised to NELCP after July 2026 will lack the unique contract ID that government agencies use for verification. This affects labour inspections, work permit applications, and dispute proceedings.
| Before July 2026 | After July 2026 (Decree 337) | |
|---|---|---|
| Signature method | General electronic signature accepted | Must use CA digital signature from a Vietnam-licensed certification authority |
| Timestamp | Not strictly required | Each signature must carry a trusted timestamp |
| Platform registration | No central registry | Submit through the prescribed platform process; the platform issues an ID within 24 hours after valid receipt |
| Contract ID | No standardised ID | NELCP assigns a unique contract number for government processes |
| Evidence strength | Variable — depends on signing method | Strengthened: digital signature + timestamp + provider certification + NELCP record |
| Paper contracts | Standard practice | Still permitted — Decree 337 encourages but does not mandate electronic contracts |
The four-step compliant signing process
Under Article 6 of Decree 337, a compliant Vietnamese electronic labour contract must complete these steps in sequence.
Identity verification
Employers and employees must complete identity verification through eKYC (electronic identity verification) or VNeID Level 2 accounts. Foreign employees use valid passports and visa documents as identity verification materials.
Digital signature and timestamp
Both parties must complete digital signatures within the eContract system. Each signature must be accompanied by a trusted timestamp to ensure non-repudiation and tamper detection. The digital signature must rely on a CA digital certificate issued by a Vietnam-licensed certification authority.
Service provider authentication
A licensed eContract service provider must perform data message authentication for the electronic transaction. This is a key step for the contract to carry full legal effect under the Law on Electronic Transactions.
NELCP synchronisation
The responsible party or service provider submits the required contract data through the prescribed platform process. After the platform receives valid data, it issues an electronic labour-contract identification code within 24 hours. Employers should confirm the submission responsibility, data fields, and timing applicable to their workflow.
HR & Operations
- Audit current HR system: does it support digital signatures, timestamps, and API integration with eContract providers?
- Register enterprise digital certificates for the legal representative and authorised HR personnel
- Ensure employees complete VNeID Level 2 account binding or eKYC verification
- Adjust contract templates to include NELCP-required metadata fields per the Decree annex
- Plan a phased rollout: start with new hires and contract renewals before full migration
Legal & Compliance
- Confirm whether your eContract service provider has NELCP API connectivity
- Verify that supported CA certificate types are licensed by Vietnamese authorities (e.g. VNPT-CA)
- Review cross-border data transfer compliance under Decree 13/2023 (PDPD)
- Document the signing workflow for audit and labour inspection purposes
- Assess whether any contract types require wet-ink signatures as a fallback
What multinational employers should know
Decree 337 does not abolish paper contracts
Vietnamese regulations encourage electronic contracts but do not mandate cancellation of paper contracts. Companies can phase digitisation gradually — electronic and paper can coexist during the transition period.
NELCP registration strengthens evidence, not just compliance
The combination of digital signatures, trusted timestamps, provider certification, and a unique NELCP contract ID significantly strengthens the evidentiary value of electronic contracts in labour disputes. This is a practical advantage, not just a regulatory burden.
CA certificate connectivity is the critical path
For foreign companies, obtaining Vietnam-compliant CA digital certificates is the main operational challenge. Partnering with a provider that has established cooperation with Vietnamese CA institutions (such as VNPT-CA) can significantly reduce implementation friction.
Data localisation intersects with PDPD
Decree 13/2023 (PDPD) governs how employee personal data is stored and transferred. If your signing platform stores data outside Vietnam, verify that you have obtained the necessary consent and that data flow meets PDPD cross-border transfer requirements.
Practical steps for employers implementing Decree 337
Vietnamese employers must take specific actions to comply with Decree 337 before the July 2026 deadline.
Choose a NELCP-compliant signing provider
Employers should confirm how their signing or labour-contract service provider submits the required data to the National Electronic Labour Contract Platform. Verify the provider's actual integration status, data mapping, submission responsibility, error handling, and receipt evidence against the current implementation guidance.
Migrate existing contracts
Existing paper-based employment contracts do not need to be re-signed electronically. However, new contracts and renewals after July 2026 must use electronic format. Plan the migration for contract renewals to avoid a rush at the deadline.
Configure identity verification
Decree 337 requires that the signer identity be verified. Use a signing platform that supports Vietnamese identity verification methods: CCCD (chip-enabled ID card), eKYC via Vietnamese banks, or VNeID digital identity. SMS OTP alone does not meet the standard.
Employee consent and accessibility
Employees must consent to electronic signing. Provide a paper-based alternative for employees who cannot or do not wish to sign electronically. Ensure the signing interface is available in Vietnamese and accessible on mobile devices, as many workers use smartphones as their primary device.
Common questions from employers
Contracts signed electronically but not synchronised to NELCP will lack the unique contract ID used by government agencies for verification. This may cause issues during labour inspections, work permit applications, and dispute proceedings. The contract itself may still be valid between the parties, but its practical enforceability in administrative contexts is weakened.
How eSign.AI helps with Vietnam e-signature compliance
eSign.AI supports Vietnam electronic labour-contract signing through its confirmed VNPT integration, including certificate-backed digital-signature workflows and evidence capture. NELCP submission responsibilities, production connectivity, required data fields, and platform receipts should be verified separately for the deployed service.
Automatic NELCP synchronisation
eSign.AI can support the signing and evidence stages of an electronic labour-contract workflow. Before relying on automated NELCP submission, confirm the available integration, responsible submitting entity, required data fields, platform testing status, and the receipt evidence returned by the production service.
Vietnamese identity verification
eSign.AI supports identity verification methods accepted in Vietnam: CCCD chip-enabled ID cards, VNeID digital identity, and bank-based eKYC. Employers can configure the required tier per document type — standard employment contracts use AES-level identity verification via CCCD.
Bahasa and Unicode support
The signing UI is available in Vietnamese. Contract content, signer names, and identity data fully support Vietnamese diacritics and Unicode. The audit trail and evidence package are generated in both Vietnamese and English for cross-border employers.
Bulk onboarding for factories
Manufacturing employers onboarding hundreds of workers per month can use eSign.AI bulk send to deliver employment contracts to all new hires in one batch. Each worker signs individually via CCCD or VNeID, and all contracts are synchronised to NELCP automatically.
