Highlights of the Past Week's Legal Documents on Salaries and Education

1. Statutory Pay Rate Increased by VND 90,000 per Month from July 1, 2018

This content is mentioned in Resolution 49/2017/QH14 on the state budget estimate for 2018, passed by the 14th National Assembly at its 4th session on November 13, 2017.

In Resolution 49, the National Assembly resolves to adjust the statutory pay rate from VND 1.3 million per month to VND 1.39 million per month (an increase of VND 90,000 per month).

At the same time, pensions, social insurance allowances, monthly allowances under regulations for subjects guaranteed by the state budget, and preferential allowances for people with meritorious services are also adjusted to increase by the statutory pay rate increment.

Implementation period for the adjustment: From July 1, 2018.

1. Application of New Regional Minimum Wage from 2018

On December 7, 2017, the Government of Vietnam officially passed Decree 141/2017/ND-CP (effective from January 25, 2017) on the increase of regional minimum wages for 2018, replacing Decree 153/2016/ND-CP.

From January 1, 2018, the new regional minimum wage levels are applied as follows:

- Region I: VND 3,980,000 per month;- Region II: VND 3,530,000 per month;- Region III: VND 3,090,000 per month;- Region IV: VND 2,760,000 per month.

Thus, the regional minimum wage in 2018 increases from VND 180,000 to VND 230,000 per month compared to 2017.

1. National High School Exam 2018: Main Review Content in Grade 12 Curriculum

This is an instruction from the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) in Official Dispatch 5816/BGDDT-GDTrH on the organization of Grade 12 teaching for the school year 2017-2018 and review for the national high school exam in 2018.

The Ministry requests the Departments of Education and Training to direct educational institutions to:

- Review for the 2018 national high school exam according to the education program content of Grade 11 and Grade 12, focusing mainly on the Grade 12 curriculum.- Pay attention to the content of teaching already adjusted according to Official Dispatch 5842/BGDDT-VP dated September 1, 2011;- Notably, at the end of January 2018, MOET will introduce reference exam questions to help teachers and students familiarize themselves with the exam format in the teaching and review process for the national high school exam in 2018.

The Ministry also directs the Departments of Education and Training to have teaching and review plans for 2018 suitable for each school and each group of students, avoiding overload, ensuring students' health.

See more in Official Dispatch 5816/BGDDT-GDTrH dated December 8, 2017.

1. Audit Plan for 2018

On December 4, 2017, the State Audit signed Decision 1785/QD-KTNN promulgating the detailed audit plan for 2018. To be specific:

- State Budget Audit, including:- Audit the final accounts of the state budget for 2017 at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment;- Audit the management and use of public finances and assets for 2017 at 16 ministries, agencies, and units;- Audit the management and use of public finances and assets for 2017 at the General Department of Taxation and the specialization of VAT refund management at the General Department of Taxation and the Tax Departments of 19 provinces and cities;- Local budget audit for 2017 at 49 provinces and cities;- Audit of 7 activities; 23 special subjects and 50 projects;- Audit financial statements, activities related to the management and use of the state budget for 2017 of Banks, Corporations, and State-owned Groups.

See the detailed plan attached to Decision 1785/QD-KTNN effective from December 4, 2017.

1. Fine up to VND 50 Million for Unauthorized Repairs of State-owned Houses

This is a new point in Decree 139/2017/ND-CP on administrative penalties related to construction, trading in construction materials, real estate business, housing development, and management and use of houses and public buildings.

Decree 139 stipulates a fine ranging from VND 40 million to VND 50 million for tenants and buyers of state-owned housing who commit one of the following acts:

- Arbitrarily drilling, extending, renovating, or demolishing houses;- Using houses for purposes not stated in the housing lease contract;- Occupying houses.

See more in Decree 139/2017/ND-CP effective from January 15, 2018, replacing Decree 121/2013/ND-CP.

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