05 New Outstanding Policies from the Beginning of September

1. Prohibition on Market Management Officials from Demanding or Receiving Money or Property from Violators

According to the Ordinance on Market Management 2016 effective from September 1, 2016, Market Management officials are prohibited from engaging in the following acts:

- Conducting inspections, specialized audits, and professional measures without basis, beyond their functions, authority, assigned tasks, or jurisdiction, or not in accordance with prescribed procedures and processes;- Obstructing the circulation of goods, lawful business activities of organizations and individuals;- Threatening, bribing, or deceiving organizations and individuals during specialized inspections or administrative violation handling;- Abusing their positions or powers to harass, demand, or receive money or property from violators;- Shielding, covering up, or restricting the rights of administrative violators (VPHC) during the handling of VPHC, or exhibiting improper attitudes, gestures, or speech while performing official duties;- Illegally disclosing information, documents, and case files related to specialized inspection activities;- Engaging in activities prohibited for officials according to the law on officials.

For more details on cases where civil servants have their market inspection cards revoked, see the Ordinance on Market Management 2016.

1. Construction Practice Certificate Valid for 5 Years

This is mentioned in Circular 17/2016/TT-BXD (effective from September 1, 2016) guiding the competence of organizations and individuals participating in construction activities.

Individuals participating in the following construction activities must have a construction practice certificate:

- Construction surveying;- Construction planning design;- Construction design;- Construction supervision;- Construction inspection;- Construction valuation.

The practice duration corresponding to each field of construction activity is 5 years. For practice certificates granted before September 1, 2016:

- Practice certificates with specified validity periods can be used until expiration;- Practice certificates without specified validity periods can be used until June 30, 2018.

From September 1, 2016, individuals with practice certificates in these two instances, if needed, can convert their practice certificates according to regulations.

1. Support Levels for Students in Particularly Difficult Villages and Communes

Decree 116/2016/ND-CP stipulates support policies for students and secondary schools in particularly difficult villages and communes effective from September 1, 2016.

Students eligible for policies under Decree 116 receive the following support:

- Meal support: Each student receives 40% of the statutory pay rate per month and is supported for no more than 9 months per school year per student;- Housing support: For students who must arrange their housing because the school cannot provide semi-boarding accommodation, each month they receive 10% of the statutory pay rate and are supported for no more than 9 months per school year per student;- Rice support: Each student receives 15 kg of rice per month and is supported for no more than 9 months per school year per student.

In addition, the Decree stipulates support for ethnic minority semi-boarding schools.

Decree 116/2016/ND-CP replaces Decision 85/2010/QD-TTg ; Decision 12/2013/QD-TTg and Decision 36/2013/QD-TTg.

1. Temporary Residence Cards for Foreign Consular Employees Valid for 5 Years

According to Circular 04/2016/TT-BNG temporary residence cards issued to members of diplomatic missions, consular posts, representative offices of international organizations in Vietnam and their spouses, children under 18 years, and accompanying domestic servants (sign NG3) are valid for a maximum of 5 years and must be at least 30 days shorter than the passport's validity.

The temporary residence duration can be extended and the visa's new duration for foreigners with visas sign NG1, NG2, NG4 must match the entry purposes, the inviting or guaranteeing organization's request, and are valid for a maximum of 12 months, at least 30 days shorter than the passport's validity of foreigners.

More details can be found in Circular 04/2016/TT-BNG effective from September 1, 2016.

1. Circular 10/2016/TT-BKHDT Regulations on Monitoring, Following, and Inspecting Bidding Activities issued by the Minister of Planning and Investment effective from September 9, 2016.

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