Legal Document Updates in English (19/2021)

TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OF PROVISION OF
AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE PREMIUM SUPPORT TO THE END OF 2021

On January 25, 2021, the Prime Minister issues the Decision No. 03/2021/QD-TTg amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 22/2019/QD-TTg of June 26, 2019, on implementation of the agricultural insurance support policy.

Accordingly, individuals engaged in agricultural production who are members of poor households or households living just above the poverty line in accordance with the regulations on national multidimensional poverty standards

for the 2021-2025 period are entitled to a support equal to 90% of their payable agricultural insurance premiums.

Noticeably, the period of provision of agricultural insurance premium support shall last from the effective date of the Decision No. 22/2019/QD-TTg through December 31, 2021 (as in previous regulations, the period of provision of agricultural insurance premium support shall end on December 31, 2020).

This Decision takes effect on the signing date.

APARTMENT PURCHASE CONTRACTS MUST CLEARLY STATE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE FUND ACCOUNT

The Government issues the Decree No. 30/2021/ND-CP dated March 26, 2021 on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 99/2015/ND-CP dated October 20, 2015 on detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Housing Law.

Specifically, before signing contracts to purchase, rent-purchase apartments or other areas in the apartment building, the project owner shall be responsible for opening a payment account at a credit institution or foreign bank branch which is currently operating in the locality where the purchased or rent-purchased apartments are located to receive maintenance funds paid by purchasers and rent-purchasers of apartments or other areas and by the project owner.

When opening the above account, the project owner must clearly state that the account name is the deposit for the

maintenance funds of the apartment building. The parties must clearly specify in the contract information about such account upon signing a contract to purchase, rent-purchase apartments or other areas.

Additionally, within 10 days (not 15 days as previously prescribed) from the date of receipt of the document from the Management Board of the apartment building, the provincial-level People's Committee shall send a written request to the credit institution where the project owner opens a deposit account for maintenance funds, to provide information about the account number and the amount in the account for coercing recovery of maintenance funds in case the project owner fails to hand over the collected maintenance funds.

This Decree takes effect from the signing date.

TO EXTEND THE SECURITIES SERVICE PRICE EXEMPTION
OR REDUCTION DURATION UNTIL THE END OF 2021

The Circular No. 30/2021/TT-BTC on extending the implementation validity period of the Circular No. 14/2020/TT-BTC dated March 18, 2020 of the Minister of Finance, on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Circular No. 127/2018/TT-BTC dated December 27, 2018 of the Minister of Finance, on prescribing prices of services in the field of securities applicable to the Stock Exchanges and Vietnam Securities Depository to support relevant organizations and individuals affected by Covid-19 epidemic is issued by the Ministry of Finance on May 14, 2021.

Accordingly, to extend the implementation validity period of the Circular No. 14/2020/TT-BTC dated March 18, 2020 of the Minister of Finance, on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Circular No. 127/2018/TT-BTC dated December 27, 2018 of the Minister of Finance, on prescribing prices of services in the field of securities

applicable to the Stock Exchanges and Vietnam Securities Depository to support relevant organizations and individuals affected by Covid-19 epidemic, which was extended under the Circular No. 70/2020/TT-BTC dated July 17, 2020 of the Minister of Finance, until the end of December 31, 2021.

After December 31, 2021, the price of services in the field of securities applicable to the Stock Exchanges and Vietnam Securities Depository shall comply with the Circular No. 127/2018/TT-BTC dated December 27, 2018. Based on the development of the Covid-19 epidemic and the securities market, the Minister of Finance shall consider and promulgate amendments and supplements to the price of services in the field of securities in case of necessity.

This Circular takes effect on July 01, 2021.

PERSONS WHO HAVE COMPLETED CONCENTRATED QUARANTINE
MUST ISOLATE AT HOME FOR MORE 14 DAYS

On May 05, 2021, the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control issues the Public Telegram No. 597/CD-BCD on strict compliance of regulations on concentrated quarantine and management after completion of concentrated quarantine for COVID-19 prevention and control.

Accordingly, Chairpersons of People ’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall direct the strictly implementation of concentrated quarantine for at least 14 days for persons entering Vietnam, management and health monitoring at home or places of residence for the next 14 days after completion of concentrated quarantine. In the concentrated quarantine establishments, there must be enough cameras to monitor quarantined persons’ compliance of COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

Those cameras must be operated continuously and connected to the surveillance system as prescribed.

On the other hand, the Steering Committee also requests Steering Committees for COVID-19 prevention and control of provinces and cities to inspect each establishment's concentrated quarantine implementation at least every 15 days; and at the same time, requests persons who have completed their concentrated quarantine not to leave home or places of residence; if compulsorily leaving for working or other necessary work, they must report to the local police and health agency and strictly complying the Ministry of Health’s 5K recommendation, avoid mass gatherings or go to crowded places and carry out testing for SARS-CoV-2 on the 7th day.

NOT STIGMATIZE OR DISCRIMINATE
AGAINST THOSE WHO HAVE RECOVERED FROM COVID-19

On May 27, 2020, the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control issues the Decision No. 2194/QD-BCDQG on promulgating "the Guidance on prevention, control, and assessment of the risk of COVID-19 infection at the workplaces and dormitories for workers".

Specifically, workers should actively and regularly clean their personal desk surfaces at the workplace; avoid mass gatherings in break time between work shifts or lunch breaks; not stigmatize or discriminate against those who have completed their quarantine period or have to go on business trips to areas at risk of COVID-19 infection or those who have recovered from COVID-19.

Besides, upon detecting any worker with one of the symptoms such as fatigue, fever, cough, sore throat or

shortness of breath, the following steps shall be implemented: Notifying managers and health staff of the establishment; Wearing medical masks as instructed; Avoiding contact with surrounding people; Transferring the worker to the prepared quarantine area; Calling the hotline of the Health Department or the Ministry of Health, etc.

The classification of infection risk groups is prescribed as follows: If the total point is under or equal to 15%: Very low risk; If the total point is from 16% - 30%: Low risk; If the total point is from 31% - 50%: Medium risk; If the total point is from 51% - 80%: High risk; If the total point is from 81% - 100%: Very high risk.

This Decision takes effect on the signing date.

HANOI: CHAIRPERSONS OF WARD PEOPLE’S COMMITTEES SHALL
ORGANIZE 2 CONFERENCES FOR DIALOGUE WITH LOCAL PEOPLE EVERY YEAR

On March 29, 2021, the Government issues the Decree No. 32/2021/ND-CP detailing, and providing measures to implement, the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 97/2019/QH14 of November 27, 2019, piloting the urban administration model in Hanoi.

Accordingly, annually, a chairperson of a ward People’s Committee shall organize at least two conferences for dialogue with local people on matters related to legitimate interests and aspirations of local citizens before regular meetings of the People’s Council of the concerned urban district or town are held. Based on population size of the ward, the ward chairperson may organize conference for dialogues with local people through representatives of residential quarters.

THE LIST OF 3,006 DESIGNATED ENERGY USERS IN 2019

On October 12, 2020, the Prime Minister issues the Decision No. 1577/QD-TTg on the issuance of the List of Designated Energy Users in 2019.

Accordingly, the number of designated energy users in 2019 is 3,006. In which there are 2,441 industrial production establishment, 15 agricultural production establishments, 81 carriers and 466 construction works, such as Ever-Fortune JSC., Opera Hotel Limited Company; Vietnam Television Office; National Assembly Office; Hanoi Hotel, etc.

People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall direct local specialized agencies to inspect, review, and make a list of designated energy users in the area; send it to the Ministry of Industry and Trade before February 01 every year.

Besides, State companies and corporations shall request designated energy users that are members, under their management to perform tasks on energy efficiency.

This Decision takes effect on the signing date.