Starting July 1, 2026, female workers in Vietnam who give birth to their second child will enjoy an extended maternity leave of seven months instead of the previous six months. This significant change has sparked interest regarding whether the additional month of leave will be compensated with maternity benefits.

According to new guidelines from the Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance Department, female employees who give birth to their second child will receive maternity benefits corresponding to the full seven months of leave. This includes a one-time allowance and other benefits, provided they meet the necessary conditions outlined by the law.

Specifically, as per Document 4860/BHXH-CDBHXH of 2026, the social insurance agency will implement maternity benefits for second-time mothers in accordance with Article 14 of the Population Law 2025 and Article 2 of Decree 168/2026/NĐ-CP. Eligible female workers who have at least one living child will be entitled to seven months of maternity leave, with no more than two months taken before the birth.

Importantly, the Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance Department has confirmed that maternity benefits will be calculated based on the entire duration of the leave. Therefore, female employees giving birth to their second child will receive full maternity benefits for the entire seven months, rather than just six months as previously stipulated. The monthly benefit amount is calculated at 100% of the average salary used to determine mandatory social insurance contributions for the six months prior to the maternity leave.

For instance, if the average salary used for social insurance contributions over the last six months is 6,000,000 VND per month, the total maternity benefit would amount to 42,000,000 VND (6,000,000 VND x 7 months).

In addition to the extended maternity leave, starting July 1, 2026, workers will also benefit from higher allowances due to adjustments in the base salary. According to Decree 161/2026/NĐ-CP, the base salary will increase from 2.34 million VND to 2.53 million VND per month, resulting in a corresponding increase in maternity benefits.

Furthermore, under Article 58 of the 2024 Social Insurance Law, the one-time allowance for childbirth will rise from 4.68 million VND to 5.06 million VND per child, an increase of 380,000 VND. Additionally, the daily allowance for health recovery after childbirth will increase from 702,000 VND to 759,000 VND, which is 57,000 VND higher per day.

To qualify for maternity benefits, female workers must have contributed to social insurance for at least six months within the twelve months prior to childbirth. In cases of prescribed pregnancy leave, they must have contributed for at least twelve months, while those undergoing infertility treatment must have contributed for at least six months within the twenty-four months before childbirth.

For processing maternity benefits, if the worker is still employed and covered by social insurance, their employer must submit the necessary paperwork to the social insurance agency, clearly indicating "second childbirth" on the application list. If the worker has resigned before childbirth, they must submit the application directly to the social insurance agency and specify their request for maternity benefits for their second child as per Decree 168/2026/NĐ-CP.

For male employees, according to Article 53 of the 2024 Social Insurance Law, they are entitled to paternity leave ranging from five to fourteen working days when their wife gives birth, depending on the circumstances. Notably, Article 29 of the Population Law 2025 states that male employees whose wives give birth to their second child will receive ten working days of paternity leave, an increase from the previous five days.

In summary, starting July 1, 2026, female workers giving birth to their second child will not only enjoy seven months of maternity leave but will also receive full maternity benefits for this period, along with a one-time allowance, higher recovery benefits, and other rights if they meet the legal requirements.