Occupational Social Insurance

On December 31, 2025, the Ministry of Health issued Circular No. 60/2025/TT-BYT stipulating the list of occupational diseases entitled to social insurance, and guiding the process of diagnosis and assessment of the reduction in work capacity caused by these diseases. This is an important legal document, updating and systematizing regulations to ensure the rights of employees in working environments with risk factors.

Circular No. 60/2025/TT-BYT will officially take effect from February 15, 2026.

From this time, previous documents, including Circular No. 15/2016/TT-BYT and Circular No. 02/2023/TT-BYT,00 will expire. This new regulation applies to employees, employers, medical examination and treatment facilities, and medical assessment agencies nationwide.

List of 35 occupational diseases entitled to social insurance

According to Article 3 of the Circular, the list of occupational diseases entitled to social insurance includes 35 diseases, divided into groups based on the disease-causing agents as follows:

• Group of lung dust and bronchial diseases (7 diseases): Silicosis, asbestosis, byssinosis, talcosis, coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, occupational chronic bronchitis, and occupational asthma.
• Group of occupational intoxication diseases (10 diseases): Intoxication by lead, benzene and homologues, mercury, manganese, TNT (Trinitrotoluene), arsenic, plant protection chemicals, nicotine, carbon monoxide (CO), and cadmium.
• Group of diseases caused by physical factors (6 diseases): Noise-induced hearing loss, decompression sickness, whole-body vibration disease, local vibration disease, radiation sickness, and occupational cataracts.
• Group of occupational skin diseases (5 diseases): Oil acne, skin hyperpigmentation, contact dermatitis, skin disease caused by prolonged exposure to wet/cold environments, and skin disease caused by contact with natural rubber/rubber additives.
• Group of infectious diseases (5 diseases): Leptospirosis, Hepatitis B virus, occupational tuberculosis, HIV infection due to occupational risks, and Hepatitis C virus.
• Group of other diseases (2 diseases): Occupational mesothelioma and occupational acute respiratory infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

Principles of prevention and management of occupational diseases

The Circular emphasizes the protection of employees’ health after being diagnosed with a disease. Specifically, when employees are identified as having an occupational disease, they must adhere to the following principles:

• Limit or terminate exposure to the harmful factor causing that occupational disease.
• Undergo treatment according to the professional guidelines of the Ministry of Health.
• For the intoxication disease group, employees need to undergo timely detoxification procedures to prevent complications.

Responsibilities of the employer

Employers are responsible for reviewing and assessing the working environment and organizing periodic occupational disease screenings for employees. Upon detecting employees with suspected signs or confirmed diseases, the unit must complete the dossier and refer the employee for medical assessment to determine the level of work capacity reduction, serving as a basis for settling social insurance benefits according to current regulations.

Ho Ngoc Ha – Center for Support and Continuing Education