NEW RULES WITH EFFECT FROM 2016

Decree No. 108/2015/ND-CP dated October 28, 2015 of the Government on implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Special Consumption Tax and the amended Law on Special Consumption Tax came into force on January 1.

The decree stipulates scope of applicability, taxable objects, non-taxable objects, tax refunds, tax rates and tax reductions.

Decree No. 111/2015/ND-CP dated November 3, 2015 of the Government on development of supporting industries provides a series of policy incentives for research and development, technology transfer and production.

The Government also issued a list of priority materials for sectors such as garment, footwear, electronics, automotive, manufacturing and high technology.

The decree became effective from January 1.

Decree No. 115/2015/ND-CP dated November 11, 2015 of the Government guiding the implementation of some articles of the 2014 Social Insurance Law defines maternity regime, female employees as surrogate mothers, pension, survivorship allowance and social insurance fund. The decree took effect from January 1.

Decree No. 117/2015/ND-CP dated November 12,2015 on establishment, management and use of housing and real estate market information system was issued to build a common database in this area to serve state management and social demand. The decree came into force from January 1.

Decree No. 122/2015/ND-CP dated November 14 on region-based minimum wages for employees working for companies, cooperative unions, cooperatives, cooperative groups, farms, households, individuals and organizations hiring people via labor contracts stipulates that the region-based minimum wages shall be increased from VND2.4 million to VND3.5 million per month from January 1.

Decree No. 123/2015/ND-CP dated November 15, 2015 guiding the implementation of the Law on Civil Status specifies submission of papers required for registrations of birth, marriage and death. The decree came into force from January 1.

Decree No. 124/2015/ND-CP dated November 19, 2015 revises and supplements a number of articles in Decree No. 185/2013/ND-CP dated November 15, 2013 on administrative fines for trading and production of counterfeit and prohibited goods and protecting the rights of consumers. The decree will take effect from January 5, 2016.

Multi-level marketing businesses operating without registration will be fined VND30-50 million. The fine would double if they violate regulations in two centrally-governed provinces and cities or more.

Decision No. 53/2015/QD-TTg dated October 20, 2015 on policies for boarding students at schools, colleges and vocational schools took effect from January 1. Boarding policies are applicable to ethnic minority groups, the poor, the disabled, graduates from boarding schools for people of ethnic minority groups, poor or near-poor Kinh people, handicapped Kinh people having a permanent residence in areas with extremely difficult socioeconomic conditions, areas of minority groups, border areas and islands.

Decision No. 57/2015/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, with effect from January 1, provides policies for youth volunteer activities. Young volunteers can get support in terms of training and employment in line with the existing regulations.

Upon completion of volunteer activities, young people can have priority access to programs and projects on socioeconomic development and national defense if they participate in volunteer activities for at least three months.

Decision No. 58/2015/QD-TTg dated November 17, 2015 of the Prime Minister on standards, quotas, management and use of equipment and machines at State agencies, organizations, and public service units took effect from January 1.

Decision No. 59/2015/QD-TTg dated November 19, 2015 of the Prime Minister on application of a multidimensional poverty index in 2016-2020 takes effect from January 5. The decision aims to fix the shortcomings of the income-based poverty evaluation method.

Source: The Saigon Times