Phan Thiet Medical Center loses appeal over unlawful termination of employee

The Lam Dong Provincial People’s Court has upheld a ruling against Phan Thiet Medical Center in its labor dispute with former employee Do Thi Ngoc Hieu. The appellate court rejected the center’s appeal and found that it had no legal basis to end her employment relationship unilaterally.

The center must pay Hieu 86.4 million dong. The sum includes more than 70.9 million dong in wages for the period from January to October 2025 when she could not work, more than 14.18 million dong equivalent to two months’ wages for an unlawful termination, and 1.4 million dong for work-protection expenses in 2025.

The medical center must also continue paying Hieu’s social, health and occupational accident insurance contributions from January through the end of October 2025. The appellate judgment took effect immediately.

The dispute began after the center said an employment contract signed on May 2, 2024, had expired and that it did not want to renew it. During the proceedings, the lower court found that the contract had been concluded contrary to legal requirements and was invalid. Hieu’s employment relationship therefore continued under an earlier contract that remained valid.

Hieu sued for the benefits arising from the unlawful termination, including wages, insurance contributions and reinstatement. The court awarded financial compensation but did not order the center, now called Phan Thiet Regional Medical Center, to take her back to work.