Circular No. 56/2026/TT-BXD, issued on July 6, 2026, outlines regulations regarding working and rest times for maritime workers engaged in public non-business services essential for maritime safety. According to Article 4, these workers are limited to a maximum of six hours per work shift each day.
The circular applies to various roles, including the operation and maintenance of isolated lighthouses and navigational aids, general inspection of marine navigation systems, and routine checks of dikes along navigational channels. It also encompasses tasks like painting and maintaining buoys and beacons, as well as provisioning lighthouse stations and management stations for navigational channels.
In addition to restricting shift lengths, the circular stipulates that overtime cannot exceed 50% of the daily working hours and must not surpass 300 hours annually. Any overtime must be mutually agreed upon by the workers involved.
Furthermore, Article 6, Clause 1, mandates that workers are entitled to a minimum of 12 consecutive hours of rest following each shift before commencing their next work period. This regulation aims to ensure the well-being and safety of maritime workers.
