Highlights of Notable Documents from the Past Week (from December 10, 2023 to December 15, 2023)

1. Circular 37/2018/TT-BYT: Adjustment of Service Price Framework for Non-BHYT Medical Examination

Recently, the Ministry of Health has issued Circular 37/2018/TT-BYT stipulating the maximum price framework for medical examination and treatment services that are not covered by the health insurance fund in state medical facilities.

Effective from January 15, 2019, the maximum price framework for medical examination services at facilities (including direct costs and wages) is adjusted as follows:

- Special class hospitals: 37,000 VND (current level: 39,000 VND);- Class I hospitals: 37,000 VND (current level: 39,000 VND);- Class II hospitals: 33,000 VND (current level: 35,000 VND);- Class III hospitals: 29,000 VND (current level: 31,000 VND);- Class IV hospitals: 26,000 VND (current level: 29,000 VND);- Commune health stations: 26,000 VND (current level: 29,000 VND).

In addition to reducing the maximum price framework for services at facilities, Circular 37 also increases the maximum price framework for certain services such as: consultations to determine difficult cases; issuance of medical certificates, medical examinations, etc.

Detailed information can be found in Circular 37/2018/TT-BYT, which takes effect from January 15, 2019.

1. Official Increase of Regional Minimum Wage in 2019

On November 16, 2018, the Government of Vietnam promulgated Decree 157/2018/ND-CP stipulating the regional minimum wage for employees working under labor contracts.

Effective from January 1, 2019, the regional minimum wage for workers in enterprises will be adjusted to increase by 160,000 VND to 200,000 VND compared to the current levels. Specifically:

- 4,180,000 VND/month for enterprises in Region I (an increase of 200,000 VND compared to the current regulation);- 3,710,000 VND/month for enterprises in Region II (an increase of 180,000 VND compared to the current regulation);- 3,250,000 VND/month for enterprises in Region III (an increase of 160,000 VND compared to the current regulation);- 2,920,000 VND/month for enterprises in Region IV (an increase of 160,000 VND compared to the current regulation).

Decree 157/2018/ND-CP takes effect from January 1, 2019.

1. Female Workers to Receive Backdated Pension Increments

This notable content is mentioned in Official Dispatch 4894/BHXH-CSXH issued by Vietnam Social Security on November 26, 2018, guiding the implementation of pension adjustments for female workers.

Vietnam Social Security has forwarded Decree 153/2018/ND-CP to provincial and city social security offices under central management to organize and implement the following:

- Implement pension adjustments as per Decree 153/2018/ND-CP for relevant individuals under their management;- Pay backdated increments in pension for the period between the commencement of pension payments from January 1, 2018 until the date the new pensions are implemented under Decree 153/2018/ND-CP for female workers;- Prepare a report on the adjusted beneficiaries and the total additional pension fund for the previous year by January 10 of the following year.

Additionally, Vietnam Social Security requires the Social Security of the Ministry of National Defense and the Social Security of the People's Public Security to adjust pensions in accordance with Decree 153/2018/ND-CP for those under their management who start receiving pensions from the effective date of this Decree.

1. 2019 Base Salary: Official Adjustment to 1.49 Million VND/Month

This key content is stipulated in Resolution 70/2018/QH14 on state budget estimates for 2019, issued by the National Assembly on November 1, 2018.

According to this Resolution, from July 1, 2019, the statutory pay rate will be adjusted from 1.39 million VND/month to 1.49 million VND/month (an increase of 100,000 VND compared to the current regulation).

At the same time, from this date, pension, social insurance allowances, and monthly subsidies (for beneficiaries guaranteed by the state budget) and allowances for persons with meritorious services to the revolution will be adjusted to match the statutory pay rate increase.

The budget for adjusting pensions, social insurance allowances, monthly subsidies, and preferential allowances for meritorious persons will be guaranteed by the central state budget.

More details can be found in Resolution 70/2018/QH14, which takes effect from December 24, 2018.

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