Highlight of Documents from June 19, 2017 - June 24, 2017

1. Updated List of Communes under Program 135

On June 20, 2017, the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam approved Decision 900/QD-TTg on the list of especially difficult communes, border communes, and safe zone communes under Program 135 for the period 2017 - 2020, replacing the list of communes under Program 135 for the period 2016 - 2020 as per Decision 204/QD-TTg dated February 1, 2016.

The new list has been adjusted to reduce by 136 communes and 02 provinces/cities. Thus, only 2,139 especially difficult communes, border communes, and safe zone communes in 46 provinces have been approved for investment under Program 135 during the period 2017 - 2020.

In general, most especially difficult communes under the investment of Program 135 are concentrated in northern provinces such as: Cao Bang (156 communes), Ha Giang (136 communes), Lang Son (133 communes), Son La (118 communes), Lao Cai (104 communes), Dien Bien (103 communes).

See the detailed List in Decision 900/QD-TTg which takes effect from the signing date.

1. Additional Support for Meals and Travel for Ethnic Minority Workers

From July 28, 2017, ethnic minority (DTTS) workers participating in short-term vocational training courses will receive additional support for meal and travel expenses as stipulated in Circular 58/2017/TT-BTC as follows:

- Meal allowance: 30,000 VND/person/day of actual study;- Travel allowance: 200,000 - 300,000 VND/person/course depending on the distance from residence to the training location and the training participants.

This is a new support policy added for ethnic minority workers which was not mentioned in the current regulations.

Beneficiaries entitled to multiple support policies for the same content will only receive the highest policy.

See the details in Circular 58/2017/TT-BTC which specifies financial support policies for organizations and units employing ethnic minority workers in the Central Highlands, mountainous areas, and especially difficult areas under Decision 42/2012/QD-TTg, replacing Circular 52/2013/TT-BTC.

1. Pilot of Allowance Payments for People with Meritorious Services via Post Office in Some Provinces

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs issued Official Dispatch 2487/LDTBXH-KHTC on June 19, 2017, guiding the payment of preferential allowances for people with meritorious services to the revolution with notable contents as follows:

- Expanding the pilot model of payment of preferential allowances for people with meritorious services to the revolution via the Post Office in 06 provinces and cities such as: Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Dak Nong, Quang Nam, Dong Nai, Bac Kan;- Other localities will continue to manage and implement the payment of preferential allowances for people with meritorious services to the revolution through the three-party payment model by signing a responsibility contract according to Joint Circular 47/2009/TTLT-BTC-BLDTBXH dated March 11, 2009;

1. Increase in Deposit Insurance Payment Limit by 1.5 Times

This is a notable content in Decision 21/2017/QD-TTg by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam regulating the deposit insurance payment limit as specified in Clause 2, Article 24 of the Deposit Insurance Law.

From August 5, 2017, the deposit insurance payment limit will increase to 75 million VND instead of 50 million VND as currently regulated in Clause 3, Article 1 of Decree 109/2005/ND-CP.

The deposit insurance payment limit is the amount of insurance paid for all insured deposits (including both principal and interest) of an individual at a deposit insurance participating organization.

Also this week, Thu Ky Luat updated 02 important Resolutions of the National Assembly passed at the 3rd session, the 14th National Assembly, and 01 Joint Resolution of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Government of Vietnam, and the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front. To be specific:

1. Resolution 34/2017/QH14 dated June 8, 2017 on the law and ordinance development program for 2018 and adjustment of the law and ordinance development program for 2017;
2. Resolution 35/2017/QH14 dated June 12, 2017 on the National Assembly's supervision program in 2018;
3. Joint Resolution 403/2017/NQLT-UBTVQH14-CP-DCTUBTWMTTQVN dated June 15, 2017 detailing the form of supervision and social critique by the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

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