Hanoi-Vietnam: Key policies effective from early February 2017

1. Eightfold increase in fines for urinating and defecating in public places in Vietnam

Decree 155/2016/ND-CP stipulates penalties for administrative violations in the environmental protection sector.

From February 01, 2017, acts of personal hygiene (urinating, defecating) at incorrect places in residential areas, commercial, service areas, and public places (collectively referred to as public places) will incur fines from 1 to 3 million VND (an eightfold increase compared to the current fine of 2-3 hundred thousand VND).

At the same time, fines for other acts have also increased, such as:

- A fine of 0.5 to 1 million VND for acts of discarding, disposing of, or abandoning cigarette butts in inappropriate places in public;

- A fine of 3 to 5 million VND for acts of discarding household waste in inappropriate places in public;

- A fine of 5 to 7 million VND for acts of discarding household waste on sidewalks, streets, into urban wastewater systems, or surface water drainage systems in urban areas.

Decree 155/2016/ND-CP replaces Decree 179/2013/ND-CP.

2. Vocational training support for youths completing military service

Circular 43/2016/TT-BLDTBXH guides policies for vocational training support for youths completing military service, police duty, and voluntary youths completing socio-economic development projects, effective from February 12, 2017.

The aforementioned subjects who need vocational training at the elementary level and meet the conditions to be granted vocational training cards will be received and organized for training and support by vocational education institutions:

- Training cost as stated in Article 10 of Circular 152/2016/TT-BTC.

- Meal allowance: 30,000 VND/person/day of actual study.

- Travel allowance: 200,000 VND/person/course if the training location is 15km or more away from the residence.

Priority is given to training support within the maximum value of the card; the remaining value of the card is for meal and travel support.

In cases where the total support exceeds the maximum card value, the learner will pay the difference to the vocational education institution. If it is less than the card value, the state budget will settle the actual expenditure.

3. New adjustments on monthly salary and income serving as the basis for social insurance premium payment

According to Circular 42/2016/TT-BLDTBXH issued by the Vietnam Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, monthly salary and income serving as the basis for social insurance premium payment are adjusted as follows:

- Adjusted monthly salary serving as the basis for social insurance premium payment of each year = Total monthly salary serving as the basis for social insurance premium payment according to the employer's salary policy of each year X Adjustment rate of the year.

- Adjusted monthly income serving as the basis for voluntary social insurance premium payment of each year = Total monthly income serving as the basis for social insurance premium payment of each year X Adjustment rate of the year.

According to the Circular, the adjustment rate (monthly salary and income) for 2017 is 1.00.

Details of adjustment rates in monthly salary and income for previous years can be found in Circular 42/2016/TT-BLDTBXH, effective from February 11, 2017.

Additionally, in the fields of officials and public employees, construction, and transport, Lawnet has updated several notable policies as follows:

1. Decree 159/2016/ND-CP on the Law on Inspection on the organization and activities of the People's Inspection Committee, effective from February 01, 2017.
2. Circular 320/2016/TT-BTC on compensation policies for individuals tasked with receiving citizens and handling complaints, denunciations, proposals, and reports, effective from February 01, 2017.
3. Circular 43/2016/TT-BYT on the probation period according to the professional title of health sector public employees, effective from February 01, 2017.
4. Circular 38/2016/TT-BGTVT on the settlement of railway traffic accidents and incidents, effective from February 01, 2017.
5. Circular 46/2016/TT-BGTVT on the grading of inland waterway technical standards, effective from February 01, 2017.
6. Circular 27/2016/TT-BXD on Decree 117/2015/ND-CP on the construction, management, and use of the housing and real estate market information system, effective from February 01, 2017.

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