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Legal answers
INCREASING RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
Answered

To better serve the social welfare needs, on October 19, 2023, the Government issued Decree 75/2023/ND-CP amending and supplementing Decree 146/2018/ND-CP guiding the Law on Health Insurance. This decree notably emphasizes the Government’s additional allocation of rights and responsibilities to medical examination and treatment facilities in the implementation of health insurance contracts (‘Decree 75‘).

Here, let’s delve into the details together!

In Section 8, Clause 1 of Decree 75/2023/ND-CP, the Government amended and supplemented the rights and responsibilities of medical examination and treatment facilities as follows:

Firstly, Decree 75 has added the right: ‘To provide timely information when the health insurance assessment information system detects an increase in health insurance examination and treatment costs higher than the average costs of the same-level, same-category, and same-specialty facilities, in order to timely review, inspect, verify, and implement appropriate adjustments.’

Secondly, the new decree has enhanced the responsibility of medical facilities in adhering to regulations regarding procurement, bidding, to ensure the supply of medicines, chemicals, medical supplies, and technical healthcare services with quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

Additionally, the decree stipulates that medical facilities must promptly review and issue procedures, professional guidelines, measures to prevent abuse, exploitation of health insurance funds within their authority; regularly conduct checks, reviews, verify health insurance examination and treatment costs that surge at the facility based on recommendations, warnings from the Social Insurance Agency, and make appropriate adjustments.

The above encompasses the entire content of the newsletter: Increasing Rights and Responsibilities for Healthcare Facilities.

Decree 75 takes effect from December 3, 2023.

This newsletter is solely intended to inform about newly enacted legal regulations and should not be used for advice or applied to specific cases.

Hope this information proves helpful to our esteemed readers.

AMENDMENT OF REGULATIONS ON STATE INVESTMENT CREDIT PLAN
Answered

On November 7, 2023, the Government issued Decree No. 78/2023/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 32/2017/NĐ-CP on state investment credit.

Now, let’s explore the details together with Bizlawyer!

Accordingly, the state investment credit plan is amended as follows:

Before July 31 each year, the Vietnam Development Bank shall develop the state investment credit plan for the following year and submit it to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, including the following contents:

Implementation status and results of the previous year’s state investment credit plan, expected plan for the next year;

  • Capability to mobilize capital and balance funding sources for implementing the state investment credit plan;
  • Plan for subsidizing preferential interest rates, management fees, and charter capital of the Vietnam Development Bank to implement the state investment credit plan for the next year;
  • Operational solutions, organization of implementation, and expected results.
  • Before August 31 each year, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Vietnam Development Bank, shall review and refine the state investment credit plan for the next year developed by the Vietnam Development Bank.

Before December 31 each year, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, shall report to the Prime Minister on the overall target for the total growth of state investment credit or the total plan for state investment credit for the next year, assigned to the Vietnam Development Bank.

The above is the entire content of the news: New regulations on counterfeit prevention.

Decree 78/NĐ-CP will be effective from December 22, 2023.

This news is for informational purposes about newly issued legal regulations and is not intended for specific cases or advisory purposes.

We hope this information is helpful to our valued readers.

SPECIFIC REGULATIONS ON DEPOSIT AMOUNT IN REAL ESTATE BUSINESS, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Answered

On the morning of November 28, 2023, the National Assembly officially passed the amended and supplemented Real Estate Business Law 2023. This law provides detailed regulations on the issue of deposits in real estate business and construction projects, effective from January 1, 2025.

Let’s delve into the details with Bizlawyer!

The amended and supplemented Real Estate Business Law 2023 stipulates that project investors are only allowed to collect a deposit of up to 5% of the selling or leasing price from customers when the houses or construction projects meet all the conditions for business operations as prescribed by this law. When agreeing on the deposit, the selling or leasing price of the houses or construction projects must be clearly stated.

According to some experts’ opinions: the Real Estate Business Law has very strict regulations on the timing and amount of deposits collected by project investors. However, in cases where project investors do not use the term “deposit” but enter into agreements under any other form, the effectiveness of these regulations has not been fully addressed.

* This news is for informational purposes regarding newly enacted legal regulations and is not intended for specific case consultation or application.

We hope this information is helpful to our valued readers.

Bizlawyer is honored to accompany you!

WORKERS IN THE FIELDS OF OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION AT SEA, HOW DO THEY TAKE BREAKS/REST?
Answered

To ensure working conditions, rights, and the health of laborers engaged in specialized jobs such as those in the field of exploration and exploitation of oil and gas at sea, on November 8, 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decree no. 20/2023/TT-BCT, replacing Decree 24/2015/TT-BTC, which regulates working hours and rest periods for laborers in specialized occupations within the field of exploration and exploitation of oil and gas at sea (hereinafter referred to as “workers“), including determining the rest hours for these workers. (“Decree 20“).

Now, let’s delve into the details with Bizlawyer!

The resting time is the necessary duration for laborers to restore expended labor force to ensure continuous work processes. Hence, when arranging work shifts for laborers, employers not only have to ensure the working hours but also adhere to the legally regulated rest periods for them.

* For laborers working regularly at offshore oil and gas sites, the rest should be arranged as follows:

  • After each offshore work shift, laborers must have a continuous rest of at least 10 hours before starting a new shift.
  • Break time during working hours is counted as part of the working time. The total break time must be at least 60 minutes, ensuring a continuous break of at least 30 minutes. For night shifts, a break of at least 45 continuous minutes is allowed.
  • Apart from breaks between work shifts, after each work session, regularly working laborers should have continuous rest days equal to the number of days worked in the previous session.

* For irregularly working laborers at offshore oil and gas sites, the rest should be arranged as follows:

  • Working at offshore oil and gas sites on a workday in the week: 1 workday on the sea requires compensation of half a workday.
  • Working at offshore oil and gas sites on a day off in the week: 1 workday on the sea requires compensation of 1 workday.
  • Working at offshore oil and gas sites on holidays: 1 workday on the sea requires compensation of 2 workdays.

This information summarizes the details of laborers working in the field of exploration and exploitation of oil and gas at sea regarding their rest periods. Decree 20 will be effective starting from December 25, 2023.

* This bulletin aims to inform about newly enacted legal regulations and is not intended for specific advice or application in individual cases. 

I hope this information is helpful to our dear readers.

NEW REGULATIONS ON ISSUANCE OF GOVERNMENT BONDS INDIVIDUALLY
Answered

Recently, the Government issued Decree 83/2023/ND-CP amending Decree 95/2018/ND-CP on regulations regarding the issuance, registration, depository, listing, and trading of government debt instruments on the securities market (‘Decree 83‘).

Now, let’s delve into the details with Bizlawyer!

Decree 83/2023/ND-CP has amended the regulations on the issuance of government bonds individually as follows:

  1. Method of individual issuance: Direct issuance of government bonds to each purchasing entity or through authorized distributors, including commercial banks and branches of foreign banks.
  2. Development of issuance plans: The State Treasury must develop detailed plans encompassing purchasing entities, issuance volumes, terms, interest rates, anticipated issuance periods, and the envisaged form of individual issuance.
  3. Approval of plans: The Ministry of Finance approves the issuance plans after they have been reported.
  4. Implementation of issuance: The State Treasury executes the issuance based on the approved plans. In the case of selecting authorized distributors, this process is regulated through signed contracts.
  5. Conditions for becoming an authorized distributor:
  1. a) Being commercial banks, branches of foreign banks established and operating legally in Vietnam, with the function of providing bond issuance agent services as stipulated in the Law on Credit Institutions and the guidance of the State Bank of Vietnam;
  2. b) Having an operational network capable of distributing and settling government bonds;
  3. c) Having a distribution and payment organization plan meeting the issuer’s requirements for each issuance.

The above constitutes the entire content of the newsletter: New regulations on the individual issuance of government bonds.

Decree 83 takes effect from January 15, 2024.

This newsletter is intended solely to inform about newly enacted legal regulations and should not be construed as advice or applied to specific cases.

We hope this information proves helpful to our esteemed readers.

PERFORMING ONLINE PUBLIC SERVICES WILL RECEIVE UP TO 50% FEE REDUCTION
Answered

To promote online public services, on October 16, 2023, the Ministry of Finance issued Circular 63/2023/TT-BTC amending and supplementing some provisions of certain Circulars regulating fees and charges of the Minister of Finance to encourage the use of online public services (“Circular 63“).

Let’s explore the details with Bizlawyer!

There are 4 fees and charges reduced from December 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025:

  • Organizations submitting applications for industrial explosive material usage permits online, the fee is 90% of the fee specified in Circular No. 148/2016/TT-BTC.
  • Organizations and individuals submitting applications for permits to perform radiation work, the fee is 90% of the fee specified in Circular No. 287/2016/TT-BTC.
  • The fee for citizen information authentication, information result exploitation, applies a fee of 50% of the fee specified in Circular No. 48/2022/TT-BTC.
  • Organizations and individuals submitting applications for new, reissued, or changed driver’s licenses, apply a fee of 115,000 VND per issuance…

Additionally, there are 4 fees and charges reduced from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025:

  • Business entities submit applications for renewing certificates of qualification for occupational safety and technical inspection, the fee is 90% of the fee specified in Circular No. 245/2016/TT-BTC.
  • Organizations and individuals submitting applications for performing services related to industrial property protection, the fee is 50% of the fee specified in Circular No. 263/2016/TT-BTC.
  • Vietnamese citizens submitting passport issuance applications, apply a fee of 90% of the fee specified in Circular No. 25/2021/TT-BTC.
  • Organizations submitting applications for competence certificates for construction activities, individuals submitting applications for professional certificates for construction activities, apply a fee of 80% of the fee specified in Circular No. 38/2022/TT-BTC.

 

The Circular takes effect from December 1, 2023. The new fees apply from December 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025. From January 1, 2026, onwards, the current fee rates will be applied.

* This news is for informational purposes regarding newly enacted legal regulations and is not intended for specific case consultation or application.

We hope this information is helpful to our valued readers.

Bizlawyer is honored to accompany you!

FROM 01/12/2023, ALL TRANSACTIONS OVER 400 MILLION MUST BE REPORTED
Answered

Decision No. 11/2023/QD-TTg issued by the Prime Minister on April 27, 2023, regulates the reporting threshold for significant transactions (“Decision 11“).

Let’s delve into the details with Bizlawyer!

In accordance with the provisions of Clause 3, Article 3 of the Anti-Money Laundering Law 2022, significant transactions are cash or foreign currency transactions carried out one or more times in a day with a total value equal to or exceeding the prescribed threshold.

The current Decision No.20/2013/QD-TTg stipulates that transactions exceeding 300 million Vietnamese dong must be reported to the State Bank of Vietnam. However, starting from December 1, 2023, the reporting threshold has been increased to 400 million Vietnamese dong.

The scope of application of this law includes financial institutions, organizations, individuals engaged in non-financial sectors as stipulated in Clause 1 and Clause 2, Article 4, along with the reporting procedures specified in Article 36 of the Anti-Money Laundering Law 2022.

* This news is for informational purposes regarding newly enacted legal regulations and is not intended for specific case consultation or application.

We hope this information is helpful to our valued readers.

Bizlawyer is honored to accompany you!

NEW REGULATIONS ON COUNTERFEIT MONEY PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Answered

Production and circulation of counterfeit money constitute a type of crime that, while not new, is increasingly sophisticated and prevalent. Understanding the detrimental impact of counterfeit currency on socioeconomic development, the banking sector regularly collaborates with relevant authorities to promote campaigns against counterfeit money. On December 8, 2023, the government issued Decree No. 87/2023/ND-CP, outlining measures for preventing and combating counterfeit money and safeguarding the Vietnamese currency. Notably, this decree emphasizes aspects related to the detection, seizure, and temporary confiscation of counterfeit money (‘Decree 87‘).

Now, let’s delve into the details with Bizlawyer!

In activities and transactions involving cash, the State Bank, credit institutions, branches of foreign banks, the State Treasury, police agencies, authorized military units, and customs authorities must determine whether the currency is genuine or counterfeit by comparing it with the security features of officially published Vietnamese currency by the State Bank.

  • In the event of discovering counterfeit money, the aforementioned agencies and organizations shall seize and prepare a record according to Form 01 attached in the appendix issued with the Decree.
  • If suspected counterfeit money is found, the mentioned agencies and organizations shall temporarily seize and prepare a record according to Form 02 in the appendix issued with the Decree.

Should institutions or individuals fail to comply or cooperate in preparing records or seizing suspected counterfeit money, the State Bank, credit institutions, branches of foreign banks, and the State Treasury shall promptly report to the nearest police authority for coordinated handling.

  • Upon detecting signs related to the act of producing, hoarding, transporting, or circulating counterfeit money, institutions and individuals are responsible for reporting such criminal activities according to the procedures stipulated by criminal procedural law.

This encapsulates the entirety of the new regulations on counterfeit money prevention and control. Decree 87 will take effect from February 2, 2024.

This bulletin is solely intended to inform about newly enacted legal regulations and is not meant for advice or application in specific cases.

We hope this information is beneficial to our dear readers.

Legal News No. 11/2023
Answered

New Developments in Gold Bullion Transactions
Answered

Circular No. 12/2023/TT-NHNN of the State Bank of Vietnam amends, supplements, and replaces certain provisions of Circular No. 06/2013/TT-NHNN dated March 12, 2013, by the Governor of the State Bank, providing guidance on the trading of gold bullion in the domestic market (“Circular 12”).

Now, let’s delve into the details together with Bizlawyer!

 

Circular 12 has made adjustments regarding the notification of transaction results as follows: The State Foreign Exchange Reserve Management Department will notify in writing the Foreign Exchange Management Department, Financial – Accounting Department, Trading Department, Issuing Department, and Reserve Department of the results of gold bullion transactions with each credit institution and enterprise after confirming the transaction. Compared to the old regulations, Circular 12 adds the requirement to notify the Trading Department.

Circular 12 has adjusted the payment period and the deadline for delivery, receipt of gold bullion as follows: The list of organizations that have fully paid for gold bullion on the day will be prepared by the State Foreign Exchange Reserve Management Department at the end of the day of confirming the transaction and at the end of the next working day after the day of confirming the transaction. Subsequently, the Department shall notify in writing the Financial – Accounting Department, Issuing Department, and Reserve Department to deliver gold bullion to credit institutions and enterprises. Immediately after the delivery and receipt of gold bullion is completed, the Issuing Department and Reserve Department shall notify in writing the State Foreign Exchange Reserve Management Department and the Trading Department to make payment to credit institutions and enterprises. According to the previous regulations, Circular No. 06/2013/TT-NHNN required notification in writing to the Trading Department for payment to credit institutions and enterprises.

Circular 12/2023/TT-NHNN takes effect from November 27, 2023.

 

This newsletter is for informational purposes only regarding newly issued legal regulations and is not intended for advice or application in specific cases.

We hope this information is helpful to our valued readers.

Bizlawyer is honored to accompany our esteemed readers!