Highlights of Legal Documents Last Week (From August 13, 2018 to August 18, 2018)

1. Total staffing for officials in 2019: 259,598 positions

According to Decision 1016/QD-TTg dated August 14, 2018, the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam approved the total staffing for officials in 2019 (excluding staffing of the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Defense; staffing in public service providers, and officials at the commune level) as follows:

- Staffing in state administrative agencies and organizations: 258,163 positions. In which:- 105,189 positions in administrative agencies and organizations under Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Government-affiliated agencies, and organizations established by the Government or the Prime Minister that are not public service providers:- 151,906 positions in administrative agencies and organizations under the People's Councils and People's Committees at provincial and district levels;- 1,068 positions in Vietnam's representative agencies abroad;- Reserve staffing: 749 positions.- Total staffing of special-character Associations operating nationwide: 686 positions.

1. Reduction of conditions for business in fire prevention and fighting services

According to Decision 4513/QD-BCA-V03 dated August 15, 2018, the Ministry of Public Security proposed plans to reduce or simplify conditions for businesses in fire prevention and fighting services (PCCC) as follows:

- For enterprises (DN), business establishments (CSKD) in consultancy services for design, appraisal, supervision, inspection, and technical testing related to PCCC: The condition “Having operational locations; means, equipment, and locations ensuring the implementation of consultancy services for design, appraisal, supervision, inspection, and technical testing related to PCCC”.- For DN, CSKD in consultancy services for technology transfer related to PCCC; training and guidance in PCCC expertise: The condition “Having operational locations; means, equipment, and locations ensuring the implementation of consultancy services for technology transfer; means and equipment for training, locations for organizing training, and guidance in PCCC expertise”.- For DN, construction establishments for PCCC systems installation: The condition “Having operational locations and physical facilities, means, equipment, and machinery ensuring the implementation of PCCC systems installation”.- For DN, CSKD, manufacturing and assembly establishments of PCCC means and equipment: The condition “Having operational locations; workshops, means, and equipment ensuring the implementation of manufacturing and assembly of PCCC means, equipment, and materials”.- For DN, CSKD, trading establishments of PCCC means, equipment, and materials: The condition “Having operational locations and physical facilities, means, and equipment ensuring the implementation of trading activities of PCCC means, equipment, and materials”.

1. Resolution 104/NQ-CP: No establishment of a fund for the prevention of alcohol-related harms

This is a directive from the Government of Vietnam in Resolution 104/NQ-CP dated August 8, 2018, at its regular government meeting of July 2018.

The Government of Vietnam resolved several important issues, including:

- Not establishing a fund for the prevention of alcohol-related harms in the draft Law on Prevention of Alcohol-related Harms;- Strengthening the control over the import of scrap, outdated technologies, and low-quality goods into Vietnam;- Unifying the policy of tuition fee exemption for 5-year-old preschool children, lower secondary school students, and public schools, and supporting tuition fee payment for non-public educational institutions for children and students in the universal education category;- Continuing to gather opinions on the organization of the national high school examination;- Resolutely dealing with black spots and potential dangers causing traffic safety issues, ensuring traffic order and safety.

Details of the content of the Government of Vietnam's regular meeting of July 2018 can be found in Resolution 104/NQ-CP.

1. Communes in difficult areas according to Decision 1010/QD-TTg

On August 10, 2018, the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam signed Decision 1010/QD-TTg defining administrative units at the commune level in difficult areas with some notes as follows:

- Before August 10, 2018, localities that had implemented policies for subjects in communes removed from difficult areas would continue to implement policies until the end of 2018 and would not recover the state budget funds already spent on these subjects;- In cases where localities had not implemented the related policies for subjects in communes removed from difficult areas in 2018, they should follow the principle:- Subjects will benefit until Decision 1010 takes effect (i.e., August 10, 2018), and the remaining funds will be used by the locality to pay subjects in newly added communes (if any); and- Pay instead of the central budget to implement social security policies in the area according to Decision 579/QD-TTg dated April 28, 2017.

In subsequent years during the 2017-2020 budget stabilization period, localities will continue to adhere to the above principle.

Details of communes in difficult areas can be found in Decision 1010/QD-TTg, which takes effect from the date of signing.

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