What are the forms of support for ethnic minority workers to work abroad as prescribed in Circular 55/2023/TT-BTC?
State Support for Ethnic Minority Workers to Work Abroad?
The Ministry of Finance has just issued Circular 55/2023/TT-BTC detailing the management, utilization, and settlement of operational funds from the state budget for the implementation of national target programs for the period 2021-2025.
Clause 1, Article 25 of Circular 55/2023/TT-BTC specifies the content and level of support for workers from ethnic minority and mountainous areas who go to work abroad under labor contracts as follows:
* For workers who are ethnic minorities, or Kinh people from poor households living in ethnic minority and mountainous areas:
- Vocational training, skill training: According to actual costs, up to the maximum level specified at points b and c, clause 1, Article 7 of Circular 152/2016/TT-BTC;
- Support for foreign language training: Up to 4,000,000 VND/person/course.
- Support for meals and living expenses during training: 50,000 VND/person/day.
- Support for accommodation during training: 400,000 VND/person/month.
- Support for personal items (uniforms, blankets, bed nets, shoes, etc.): 600,000 VND/person.
- Support for travel expenses (one round trip) for workers from their registered permanent residence to the training location: 200,000 VND/person/course for those residing 15 km or more from the training site; 300,000 VND/person/course for those residing in especially difficult socio-economic areas 10 km or more from the training site.
- Costs for procedures for workers going abroad:
+ Passport fee, laissez-passer, exit permit: To be implemented according to the regulations in Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC.
+ Fee for providing judicial record information: For those not exempt from fees, the cost is according to the regulations in Circular 244/2016/TT-BTC.
+ Visa fee according to the current regulations of the receiving country.
+ Medical examination fee according to the health examination and treatment service rates of medical facilities, with a maximum support of 750,000 VND/person.
* For workers who are Kinh people from near-poor households living in ethnic minority and mountainous areas:
- Support for vocational training and skill enhancement according to actual costs, up to the maximum level specified at point d, clause 1, Article 7 of Circular 152/2016/TT-BTC.
- Support for foreign language training according to actual costs, up to 70% and other expenses according to the support levels for ethnic minorities and Kinh people from poor households as specified at point a, clause 1, Article 25 of Circular 55/2023/TT-BTC.
How is the support mechanism for ethnic minority workers going abroad defined?
Clause 2, Article 25 of Circular 55/2023/TT-BTC specifies the support mechanism for ethnic minority workers going abroad as follows:
Support for vocational training, skill enhancement, and foreign language training for eligible workers through bidding, ordering, assigning tasks to vocational and foreign language training institutions, or enterprises and public organizations that send workers abroad.
In cases where it is impossible to find a suitable service provider or the worker has already completed the course, direct support will be provided to the workers when they are eligible to go abroad based on actual invoices and receipts.
Support Mechanism for Ethnic Minority Workers Going Abroad as per Circular 55/2023/TT-BTC
How is the fund settlement for supporting ethnic minority workers going abroad implemented?
The fund settlement for supporting ethnic minority workers going abroad is specified in clause 3, Article 25 of Circular 55/2023/TT-BTC as follows:
For cases involving bidding, ordering, or assigning training tasks: Fund settlement should follow the regulations in Article 24 of Decree 32/2019/ND-CP.
For workers who have completed their courses and are awaiting departure: The Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs will support the individuals based on invoices or receipts for vocational training, skill enhancement, foreign language training, medical examination, passport, visa, judicial record, and related documents proving the worker's eligibility for support.
LawNet