Circular No. 60/2025/TT-BYT stipulates occupational diseases eligible for social insurance benefits and provides guidance on diagnosing and assessing the degree of labor capacity impairment caused by occupational diseases.

 

CIRCULAR

Regulations on occupational diseases entitled to social insurance benefits and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases

Pursuant to the Labor Safety and Health Law No. 84/2015/QH13;

Pursuant to the Social Insurance Law No. 41/2024/QH15;

Pursuant to Government Decree No. 58/2020/NĐ-CP dated May 27, 2020, stipulating the contribution rates for mandatory social insurance into the Work Injury and Occupational Disease Fund;

Pursuant to Government Decree No. 88/2020/NĐ-CP dated July 28, 2020, detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Labor Safety and Health Law regarding mandatory work injury and occupational disease insurance;

Pursuant to Decree No. 42/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 27, 2025 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

At the proposal of the Director of the Occupational Disease Prevention Department;

The Minister of Health issues this Circular regulating occupational diseases entitled to social insurance benefits and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular regulates the list of occupational diseases entitled to social insurance benefits and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. Minimum exposure limit is the lowest level of exposure to harmful factors during work that can cause occupational diseases.

2. Minimum exposure time is the shortest period of exposure to harmful factors during work that can cause occupational diseases.

3. Guarantee period is the period from when the worker ceases exposure to harmful factors until the time when there is still a possibility of developing a disease due to those harmful factors.

4. Minimum incubation period is the shortest period from the start of exposure until the onset of the disease, during which exposure would not have the potential to cause the disease.

Article 3. List of occupational diseases entitled to social insurance benefits and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases

1. Silicosis and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix I attached hereto.

2. Asbestos-related pneumoconiosis and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix II attached hereto.

3. Cotton dust pneumoconiosis and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix III attached hereto.

4. Talc pneumoconiosis and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix IV attached hereto.

5. Coal dust pneumoconiosis and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix V attached hereto.

6. Chronic bronchitis due to occupational exposure and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix VI attached hereto.

7. Occupational asthma and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix VII attached hereto.

8. Lead poisoning and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix VIII attached hereto.

9. Occupational poisoning due to benzene and its derivatives and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix IX attached hereto.

10. Mercury poisoning and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix X attached hereto.

11. Manganese poisoning and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XI attached hereto.

12. 2, 4, 6-Trinitrotoluene poisoning and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XII attached hereto.

13. Arsenic poisoning and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XIII attached hereto.

14. Occupational poisoning due to pesticide chemicals (organophosphates and carbamates) and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XIV attached hereto.

15. Nicotine poisoning and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XV attached hereto.

16. Carbon monoxide poisoning and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XVI attached hereto.

17. Cadmium poisoning and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XVII attached hereto.

18. Occupational deafness due to noise and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XVIII attached hereto.

19. Decompression sickness and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XIX attached hereto.

20. Whole-body vibration-induced occupational disease and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XX attached hereto.

21. Local vibration-induced occupational disease and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXI attached hereto.

22. Occupational radiation disease and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXII attached hereto.

23. Occupational cataract and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXIII attached hereto.

24. Occupational oil spot dermatitis and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXIV attached hereto.

25. Occupational skin pigmentation disorder and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXV attached hereto.

26. Occupational contact dermatitis due to chromium and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXVI attached hereto.

27. Occupational skin disease due to prolonged exposure to wet and cold environments and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXVII attached hereto.

28. Occupational skin disease due to exposure to natural rubber and rubber additives and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXVIII attached hereto.

29. Occupational leptospirosis and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXIX attached hereto.

30. Occupational hepatitis B and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXX attached hereto.

31. Occupational tuberculosis and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXXI attached hereto.

32. HIV infection due to occupational risk and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXXII attached hereto.

33. Occupational hepatitis C and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXXIII attached hereto.

34. Occupational mesothelioma and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXXIV attached hereto.

35. Occupational acute respiratory illness caused by a new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing the degree of reduced work capacity due to occupational diseases as specified in Appendix XXXV attached hereto.

Article 4. Principles for Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of Occupational Diseases for Workers

1. After being diagnosed with an occupational disease, workers must:

a) Limit exposure to harmful factors causing that occupational disease;

b) Receive treatment according to the Professional Guidelines of the Ministry of Health. For groups of occupational poisoning diseases, detoxification and timely antidote administration are required;

c) Be referred by the employer for medical examination to determine the degree of labor capacity reduction to enjoy social insurance benefits, and to receive treatment, convalescence, and functional rehabilitation in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. Occupational diseases specified in Clauses 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 18, 20, 21, and 34 of Article 3 of this Circular and cancers caused by occupational diseases specified in Article 3 of this Circular (excluding Clause 34), which cannot be treated stably, must be transferred for medical examination immediately.

3. In diagnosing occupational poisoning diseases for workers during the period of ensuring safety, it is not necessarily required to have tests to detect toxic substances in the body when other criteria already meet the minimum exposure limits corresponding to each occupational poisoning disease.

Article 5. Criteria for Determining Occupational Diseases to be Added to the List of Occupational Diseases Entitled to Social Insurance Benefits

The determination of occupational diseases to be added to the list of occupational diseases entitled to social insurance benefits shall be based on one of the following criteria:

1. Establishing a link between exposure to harmful factors during work and a specific disease. Some diseases may appear many years after initial exposure to harmful factors during work, and the worker may have retired or changed jobs.

2. The disease occurs in a group of workers exposed to harmful factors at a higher rate than in a group of workers not exposed.

3. The disease occurs in workers due to exposure to harmful factors during work but has not been studied in Vietnam and has been internationally recognized as an occupational disease entitled to social insurance benefits, then it should be added to the list of occupational diseases entitled to social insurance benefits.

Article 6. Provisions on Consultation for Diagnosing Occupational Diseases

1. Consultation shall be conducted for cases diagnosing diseases belonging to the group of pneumoconiosis, occupational diseases caused by local and whole-body vibration, and cases exceeding the professional capabilities of the medical facility. The Consultation Board shall be established by the head of the medical facility. In necessary cases, the Chairman of the Board decides to seek experts in the relevant field.

2. The consultation conclusion shall be completed and recorded in the Medical Consultation Record Form as prescribed in Appendix XXXVII issued together with this Circular.

3. In cases exceeding professional capabilities, the medical facility shall complete the Consultation Record and the Occupational Disease File and transfer them to another suitable medical facility for a definitive diagnosis.

Article 7. Responsibilities for Implementation

1. Responsibilities of the Department of Occupational Health:

a) To take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to organize the implementation, interim review, and final assessment of the implementation of this Circular nationwide;

b) To take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to propose amendments, supplements, or new construction and guidance on implementing regulations concerning:

- The List of Occupational Diseases Entitled to Social Insurance Benefits.

- Guidelines for Diagnosing Occupational Diseases.

- Guidelines for Assessing the Degree of Disability Caused by Occupational Diseases (also known as the Degree of Labor Capacity Reduction).

c) To monitor, inspect, and propose to competent authorities to handle violations according to the law.

2. Responsibilities of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment:

To take the lead and coordinate with the Department of Occupational Health in developing or amending guidelines for treating occupational diseases listed in the List of Occupational Diseases Entitled to Social Insurance Benefits.

3. Responsibilities of specialized agencies delegated by provincial People's Committees:

a) To take the lead in organizing the implementation and interim review of the implementation of this Circular within their jurisdiction;

b) Based on the criteria stipulated in Article 5 of this Circular, to propose new diseases in various fields and industries for the Ministry of Health (Department of Occupational Health) to consider adding to the List of Occupational Diseases Entitled to Social Insurance Benefits;

c) To inspect, handle violations, and resolve issues arising from the implementation of this Circular according to the law.

4. Responsibilities of Institutes in the field of preventive medicine, universities of medicine and pharmacy shall proactively research and propose new, special diseases in various fields and industries for the Ministry of Health (Department of Occupational Health) to consider adding to the List of Occupational Diseases Entitled to Social Insurance Benefits based on the criteria stipulated in Article 5 of this Circular.

5. Responsibilities of health departments of ministries and sectors:

a) Based on the criteria stipulated in Article 5 of this Circular, to propose new, special diseases in various fields and industries for the Ministry of Health to consider adding to the List of Occupational Diseases Entitled to Social Insurance Benefits;

b) To guide medical facilities in their sector to comply strictly with current laws on health check-ups to detect occupational diseases; to regularly inspect and resolutely deal with organizations and individuals violating laws on occupational diseases.

6. Based on the criteria stipulated in Article 5 of this Circular, labor facilities, occupational medical facilities, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals shall propose new diseases in various fields and industries for the Ministry of Health (Department of Occupational Health) to consider adding to the List of Occupational Diseases Entitled to Social Insurance Benefits.

Article 8. Reference Provisions

In cases where the referenced documents in this Circular are replaced or amended, the replacement or amended documents shall apply.

Article 9. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from February 15, 2026.

2. The following legal documents shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect:

a) Circular No. 15/2016/TT-BYT dated May 15, 2016, issued by the Minister of Health, stipulating occupational diseases entitled to social insurance benefits;

b) Circular No. 02/2023/TT-BYT dated February 9, 2023, issued by the Minister of Health, amending and supplementing certain articles of Circular No. 15/2016/TT-BYT dated May 15, 2016, issued by the Minister of Health, stipulating occupational diseases entitled to social insurance benefits.

During implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, units, organizations, and individuals shall promptly report them to the Ministry of Health (Prevention Department) for consideration and resolution./.