1. Indexing factors for monthly earnings after payment of social insurance contributions in 2020
The Circular No. 35/2019/TT-BLDTBXH stipulates that monthly earnings after payment of social insurance contributions by the entities defined in Clause 1 Article 1 of this Circular (i.e. entities subject to compulsory payment of social insurance contributions) shall be adjusted by adopting the following formula:
Monthly earnings used as the basis for payment of social insurance contributions after adjustment in each year = Total monthly earnings used as the basis for payment of social insurance contributions in each year x Indexing factor in the respective year.
In this formula, indexing factors for monthly earnings after payment of social insurance contributions are specified in Table 1.
Indexing factors in 2018 and earlier range from 1.03 to 4.85, except the indexing factor of 1.00 applied in 2019 and 2020 (i.e. there is no increase in monthly earnings after payment of social insurance contributions in these years).
Regulations in the Circular No. 35/2019/TT-BLDTBXH will be applied from January 01, 2020.
2. Higher education qualifications
Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 99/2019/ND-CP higher education qualifications include:
- Bachelor’s degrees, which are conferred on learners who have finished a higher education program in accordance with the law, met outcome requirements of Level 6 of the Vietnamese Qualifications Framework, and complied with specific and lawful regulations of their training institutions;
- Master’s degrees, which are conferred on learners who have finished a master program in accordance with the law, met outcome requirements of Level 7 of the Vietnamese Qualifications Framework, and complied with specific and lawful regulations of their training institutions;
- Doctoral degrees, which are conferred on learners who have finished a doctoral program in accordance with the law, met outcome requirements of Level 8 of the Vietnamese Qualifications Framework, and complied with specific and lawful regulations of their training institutions;
- Equivalent degrees mentioned in Clause 2 Article 15 of this Decree.
3. Regulations on estimates of construction contract packages
On December 26, 2019, the Ministry of Construction has promulgated the Circular No. 09/2019/TT-BXD providing guidance on determination and management of construction costs.
According to this Circular, construction contract package estimates include:
- The estimate of a construction contract package;
- The estimate of a procurement contract package;
- The estimate of an installation contract package;
- The estimate of a consultancy contract package;
- The estimate of an engineering and construction (EC) contract package;
- The estimate of an engineering and procurement (EP) contract package;
- The estimate of a procurement and construction (PC) contract package;
- The estimate of an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract package;
- The estimate of a lump sum turnkey contract package (project preparation, engineering, procurement and construction);
- The estimates of other construction contract packages.
4. Compulsory preparation of pollution treatment, environmental improvement and remediation plans
This provision is introduced in the Circular No. 25/2019/TT-BTNMT elaborating the Government’s Decree No. 40/2019/ND-CP on amendments to Decrees providing guidance on the Law on Environmental Protection, and providing for management of environmental monitoring services.
According to this Circular, organizations and individuals that cause environmental pollution shall:
- Carry out detailed site investigation and assessment;
- Prepare and submit their plans for pollution treatment, environmental improvement and remediation to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment or Provincial-level People's Committees for consideration, monitoring and supervision.
The Circular No. 25/2019/TT-BTNMT has been promulgated on December 31, 2019.
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