Legal Document Updates in English (40/2020)

ACCESSION TO THE CONVENTION NO. 105 CONCERNING THE ABOLITION OF FORCED LABOR

The National Assembly issues the Resolution No. 104/2020/QH14 on accession to the International Labor Organization’s Convention No. 105 concerning the Abolition of Forced Labor on June 08, 2020.

Specifically, the National Assembly decides to accede to the International Labor Organization’s Convention No. 105

concerning the Abolition of Forced Labor, which was adopted on June 25, 1957 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Besides, the Government shall direct related ministries and sectors in completing diplomatic procedures regarding accession to Convention No. 105 and notify the date Convention No. 105 become effective in Vietnam.

This Resolution takes effect on June 08, 2020.

TO REDUCE REFINANCING INTEREST RATE TO 4.0%/YEAR FROM OCTOBER 01

On September 30, 2020, the State Bank of Vietnam promulgates the Decision No. 1728/QD-NHNN on the refinancing interest rate, re-discount interest rate, overnight lending interest rate in inter-bank electronic payment and lending to offset the capital shortage in the clearing of the State Bank of Vietnam for other banks.

Accordingly, the State Bank reduces the refinancing interest rate and re-discount interest rate from 4.5%/year and

THE SUGAR IMPORT TARIFF QUOTA FOR AUCTION IN 2020 IS 103,000 TONS

The Circular No. 26/2020/TT-BCT on providing guidance on the pilot auction of import tariff quota for sugar in 2020 is issued on September 29, 2020 by the Ministry of Industry.

Specifically, the volume of import tariff quota for sugar put for auction in 2020 is 103,000 tons. Within that, the import tariff quota for coarse sugar is 72,000 tons; the import tariff quota for refined sugar is 31,000 tons.

The volume of sugar import tariff quota for auction in 2020 is applied to traders that directly use sugar as a production material and traders that use coarse sugar for making refined

TO EXEMPT CONSTRUCTION PERMITS FOR SEPARATE HOUSES
OF UNDER 7 STORIES IN RURAL AREAS

On June 17, 2020, the National Assembly adopts the Law on Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Construction Law, No. 62/2020/QH14.

Specifically, grade-IV construction works, separate houses in rural areas, of under 07 stories and in areas without urban construction planning, functional zone construction planning or detailed planning for construction of rural residential quarters already approved by competent State agencies shall be exempted from construction permits.

Besides, the National Assembly also exempts construction permits for construction works which have been notified by specialized construction agencies on results of

FROM AUGUST 01, NUMBER PLATES GRANTED FOR VEHICLES
USED FOR TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS MUST HAVE YELLOW BACKGROUND

On June 16, 2020, the Ministry of Public Security promulgates the Circular No. 58/2020/TT-BCA prescribing procedures for grant and revocation of registration certificates and number plates of road motor vehicles.

Specifically, vehicles used for transportation business activities shall be granted number plates with black letters and digits on a yellow background and serial plate numbers using in succession one of the following 20 letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, L, M, N, P, S, T, U, V, X, Y, Z. Vehicles that are used for transportation business before the effective date of this Circular must have their number plates’ background converted into the yellow one before December 31, 2021.

Besides, the Circular also provides changes on number plates of some vehicles as follows:

ONLINE TEACHING TIME ACCOUNTS UP TO 30%
OF TOTAL TEACHING TIME OF A JOINT TRAINING PROGRAM

The Ministry of Education and Training promulgates the Circular No. 38/2020/TT-BGDDT on providing regulations on joint training with foreign partners at bachelor’s, master’s and doctor’s levels in the form of online and blended training on October 06, 2020.

Accordingly, the Vietnamese training institution and foreign higher education institution implementing the joint training program in the form of blended training shall ensure that the teaching time according to the form of online training not exceed 30% of the total teaching time of the program. For joint training programs at master’s or doctor's levels, the online teaching time shall account for a maximum of 30% of the total teaching time of the joint training program.

Besides, the joint training program scale shall be determined on the basis of the quality assurance conditions in terms of

TO NOTIFY THE EXIT PLAN FOR PERFORMING
NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY TASKS BEFORE 48 HOURS

On June 30, 2020, the Government issues the Decree No. 73/2020/ND-CP prescribing immigration control for persons who leave or enter Vietnam’s territory on national defense and security vehicles to perform national defense and security tasks.

Accordingly, at least 48 hours prior to exit, the managing agency shall notify in writing the approved plan, time and location, vehicle number, list and type of immigration papers of persons leaving or entering Vietnam’s territory on national defense and security vehicles to perform national defense and security tasks to the superior agency (the Border Guard Command or Immigration Department) of the immigration control unit in order to direct such unit in implementation.