A series of new policies take effect from August 2019

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Regulations on administrative sanctions for violations in the tourism sector

Decree No. 45/2019/ND-CP effective from August 1, 2019 regulates administrative violations, forms of sanctions, levels of sanctions, remedial measures, sanctioning authority, and authority to draw up records of administrative violations in the tourism sector.

The Decree stipulates that the maximum fine for each administrative violation in the tourism sector for individuals is 50,000,000 VND, and for organizations is 100,000,000 VND. For the same administrative violation, the fine for organizations is twice the fine for individuals.

Administrative violations in the field of sports can be fined up to 100 million VND.

Decree No. 46/2019/ND-CP dated May 27, 2019 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions in the field of sports takes effect from August 1, 2019. Accordingly, the maximum fine in the field of sports prescribed in this Decree is VND 50 million for individuals and VND 100 million for organizations.

Management of water recreation facilities

Decree No. 48/2019/ND-CP dated June 5, 2019 of the Government regulating the management of activities of means of water entertainment and recreation takes effect from August 15, 2019.

The above Decree stipulates that the area for water recreation and entertainment activities includes 2 zones: Zone 1 is the water area on inland waterways, seaport waters or maritime areas; Zone 2 is other water areas not in Zone 1, marked and located by buoys or flags with easily observable colors.

Based on the actual situation, the competent authority will prescribe the time of day allowed for organizing recreational activities in the above two areas.

Administrative violations in science and technology activities are fined up to 100 million

According to Decree No. 51/2019/ND-CP issued on June 13, 2019 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations in scientific and technological activities and technology transfer, effective from August 1, 2019, the maximum fine in scientific and technological activities and technology transfer for individuals is 50 million VND, and for organizations is 100 million VND.

Conditions for persons proposed for amnesty

The Government issued Decree No. 52/2019/ND-CP dated June 14, 2019 detailing a number of articles of the Amnesty Law, effective from August 1, 2019, which specifically stipulates the conditions for people proposed for amnesty.

Legal support for small and medium enterprises

Decree 55/2019/ND-CP dated June 24, 2019 of the Government on legal support for small and medium-sized enterprises takes effect from August 16, 2019.

This Decree details legal support activities for small and medium-sized enterprises; responsibilities of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, provincial-level local authorities, other agencies, organizations and individuals involved in legal support work for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Increase subsidies and preferential allowances for people with revolutionary contributions

According to Decree 58/2019/ND-CP issued on July 1, 2019 by the Government regulating the levels of subsidies and preferential allowances for people with revolutionary contributions, effective from August 15, 2019, the standard level to determine the levels of subsidies and preferential allowances for people with revolutionary contributions as prescribed in Decree 58/2019/ND-CP is 1,624,000 VND (the old regulation in Decree 99/2018/ND-CP is 1,515,000 VND).

Regulations on giving and receiving gifts in agencies, organizations and units

According to Decree No. 59/2019/ND-CP dated July 1, 2019 of the Government detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Law on Anti-Corruption, effective from August 15, 2019, agencies, organizations, units, and people with positions and powers are only allowed to use public finance and public assets as gifts for charitable and foreign affairs purposes and to implement regimes and policies according to the provisions of law.

Gift giving must be carried out in accordance with the regime, norms, standards, and objects prescribed by law; gift-giving agencies and units must account for and make it public within their agencies and units in accordance with the provisions of law.

Organizational system of Vietnam Coast Guard

According to Decree 61/2019/ND-CP issued on July 10, 2019 of the Government detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Law on Vietnam Coast Guard, effective from August 28, 2019. Accordingly, the organizational system of the Vietnam Coast Guard includes: Vietnam Coast Guard Command; Units under the Vietnam Coast Guard Command (Coast Guard Regions 1, 2, 3, 4; Drug Crime Prevention Task Forces No. 1, 2, 3, 4; Reconnaissance Forces No. 1, 2; Coast Guard Training and Professional Development Center); Focal and grassroots agencies and units under the above units.

The Vietnam Coast Guard Command includes the General Staff, the Political Department, the Professional and Legal Department, the Logistics Department, the Technical Department, and agencies directly under the Vietnam Coast Guard Command.

Increase 7.19% monthly allowance for retired commune officials

Effective from August 1, 2019, Circular 09/2019/TT-BNV guides the implementation of adjusting the monthly allowance level from July 1, 2019 for commune officials who have retired according to Decision No. 130-CP dated June 20, 1975 of the Government Council and Decision No. 111-HDBT dated October 13, 1981 of the Council of Ministers.

Accordingly, from July 1, 2019, the monthly allowance level for retired elderly commune officials will be adjusted according to the provisions of Article 2 of Decree No. 44/2019/ND-CP of the Government, adjusting pensions, social insurance benefits and monthly allowances to increase by 7.19% of the monthly allowance level above the allowance level enjoyed at the time of June 2019.

Regulations on registration of specialized motorbikes

The Ministry of Transport issued Circular 22/2019/TT-BGTVT regulating the registration of specialized motorbikes, effective from August 1, 2019. Accordingly, the dossier for the first registration of specialized motorbikes includes: Application for registration of specialized motorbikes according to the form; original documents certifying ownership of specialized motorbikes; original documents certifying the origin of specialized motorbikes.

3 more cases are directly paid for medical examination and treatment costs using health insurance cards

According to Circular 09/2019/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health, guiding a number of contents in health insurance examination and treatment, effective from August 1, 2019, in addition to cases of direct payment of medical examination and treatment costs according to regulations, people with health insurance cards are entitled to direct payment of medical examination and treatment costs in the following 3 cases:

1- Patients who have participated in health insurance for 5 consecutive years or more and have co-paid medical examination and treatment costs in the year greater than 6 months of basic salary (except for cases of self-examination and treatment at the wrong medical facility) but have not yet received co-paid amounts greater than 6 months of basic salary.

2- In case health insurance card data is not provided or incorrect health insurance card information is provided.

3- In case the patient cannot present the health insurance card before being discharged from the hospital, transferred to another hospital during the day due to an emergency, loss of consciousness or death, or the card is lost but has not been reissued.