New policy effective from March 2015

Raising pensions and social insurance benefits; paying salary more than 15 days late must pay extra; infertile couples have the right to use surrogacy;... are new policies that take effect from March 2015.

Increase pensions and social insurance benefits

According to the Decree adjusting pensions, social insurance benefits and monthly allowances for retired commune officials, from January 1, 2015, pensions, social insurance benefits and monthly allowances for some subjects will increase by 8%.

Salary payment is delayed for more than 15 days and additional money must be paid.

According to the Decree detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of contents of the Labor Code effective from March 1, 2015, the salary for the simplest job under normal working conditions and working hours must not be lower than the regional minimum wage prescribed by the Government; if the salary payment is delayed for 15 days or more, an additional amount must be paid...

Infertile couples have the right to surrogacy

According to the Decree regulating childbirth by in vitro fertilization and conditions for surrogacy for humanitarian purposes, infertile couples have the right to use surrogacy for humanitarian purposes.

Surrogacy for humanitarian purposes is carried out on the principle of voluntariness. The couple requesting the surrogacy, the surrogate mother, and the child born through surrogacy are guaranteed privacy, personal secrets, family secrets, and are respected and protected by law.

Regulations on selling 100% state-owned enterprises

According to the Decree on sale and transfer of 100% state-owned enterprises, in case of sale of an enterprise with two or more registered buyers, it must be sold by one of the following two auction methods:

- Auction to inherit all remaining labor force, applicable in cases where a part of the labor force has been resolved according to the provisions of labor law and policies for redundant laborers due to the restructuring of single-member limited liability companies owned by the State.

- Auction without labor inheritance, applicable in cases where all labor has been resolved or the plan to resolve all labor has been approved according to the provisions of labor law and policies for redundant laborers due to the restructuring of single-member limited liability companies owned by the State.

In case there is only one valid application for purchasing an enterprise approved, the competent authority deciding to sell the enterprise shall apply the direct negotiated sale method.

The Decree also stipulates that employees in an enterprise are considered for assignment to the enterprise when they fully meet four conditions.

Customs priority regime for enterprises

According to Decree No. 08/2015/ND-CP effective from March 15, 2015, enterprises that meet the conditions prescribed in the Decree will be exempted from checking related documents in customs dossiers, exempted from actual inspection of goods during customs procedures, except in cases where there are signs of law violations or random inspections to assess compliance with the law; and given priority when carrying out tax procedures for goods according to the provisions of tax laws.

At the same time, enterprises are also given priority by customs authorities and port and warehouse business agencies to carry out procedures for goods delivery and receipt, and to be given priority for inspection and supervision...

Regulations for determining environmental damage

The Decree regulating the determination of environmental damage stipulates the responsibility to request compensation for damage and determine environmental damage, including: Collecting data and evidence to determine environmental damage, calculating environmental damage and determining responsibility to compensate for environmental damage caused by pollution and degradation.

The calculation of environmental damage is based on data and evidence that have been collected, estimated, and assessed according to the provisions of this Decree. Environmental damage in a geographical area is equal to the sum of damages to each environmental component of that geographical area.

Change landline area code

According to Circular 22/2014/TT-BTTTT promulgating the Telecommunication Numbering Plan, from March 1, 2015, the fixed telephone area codes of provinces and centrally-run cities will change, specifically: Hanoi City will change from 4 to 24; Ho Chi Minh City will change from 8 to 28; Da Nang City will change from 511 to 236; Hai Phong City will change from 31 to 225; Can Tho City will change from 710 to 292; Thua Thien - Hue from 54 to 234; Quang Ninh from 33 to 203; Thanh Hoa from 37 to 237; Khanh Hoa from 58 to 258; Lam Dong from 63 to 263; Cao Bang from 26 to 206; Ca Mau from 780 to 290...

According to Chinhphu.vn