Four Types of Support for Human Trafficking Victims Pending Repatriation

Illustrative image (source: internet)

Circular 84/2019/TT-BTC stipulates the sources of funding support from the Fund for Protection of Vietnamese Citizens and Legal Entities Abroad according to Decision 119/2007/QD-TTg dated July 25, 2007, by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam and Circular 92/2013/TT-BTC dated July 08, 2013, by the Ministry of Finance, which prescribes the financial management policies for the Fund for Protection of Vietnamese Citizens and Legal Entities Abroad.

Notably, while waiting for verification and completing necessary paperwork to return home, in cases where victims lack the financial means, essential needs and travel expenses will be supported as stipulated in Article 33 of the Law on Prevention and Combat of Human Trafficking. The specific contents and levels of support are as follows:

- Temporary food and accommodation expenses for victims: applied based on the basic living allowance multiplied by the geographic area coefficient specified in Decree 08/2019/ND-CP dated January 23, 2019, by the Government of Vietnam, stipulating certain policies for members of Vietnamese agencies abroad.

- Support for clothing, necessary personal items, travel assistance at the host country, and other necessary costs related to obtaining documents and completing procedures to return home, such as: overdue residency fees, airport fees, document issuance fees, security costs, translation costs. The expenditure level is determined by the Head of the Vietnamese representative agency abroad and based on actual spending documents, ensuring the most economical use.

- Costs of purchasing airplane, train, or bus tickets for victims wishing to return to their residence but unable to afford the expenses (purchased and provided by the Vietnamese representative agency abroad) according to the usual public transport fare to bring victims to the border checkpoint, whether by air, land, or water.

- While arranging for the return, if a victim falls ill and requires treatment at a local hospital, the Vietnamese representative agency abroad will compile the expenses with necessary documentation for consideration of support for each specific case. In the event of a victim's death, the Vietnamese representative agency abroad will consider supporting the costs of burial/cremation or transporting the deceased's remains/ashes back home based on actual transport costs, ensuring the lowest possible expense.

For further regulations, see: Circular 84/2019/TT-BTC effective from January 01, 2020.

Thu Ba

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