Circulars on labor and construction in effect from mid-February

1. Indexing of monthly salary and income already withheld partly for social insurance contribution in 2017

Such content is prescribed in the Circular No. 42/2016/TT-BLDTBXH (in effect as of February 11, 2017) on the indexing factor for monthly salary and income already withheld partly for social insurance contribution. It stipulates that:

- The monthly salary already withheld partly for social insurance contribution of a worker contributing to social insurance or saving his progress of social insurance contribution; and having contributed to social insurance according to employer’s salary regulation shall be indexed in the following manner:

Monthly salary partly withheld for social insurance contribution as indexed in a year = Total monthly salary partly withheld for social insurance contribution according to the employer's salary regulation in a year X Factor that indexes the salary already withheld partly for social insurance contribution in the respective year

- Monthly income already withheld partly for voluntary social insurance contribution of a contributor, who receives pension and one-time allowance upon retirement or whose death results in a relative's receipt of one-time bereavement benefit from January 01, 2017 to December 31, 2017, shall be indexed in the following manner:

Monthly income partly withheld for voluntary social insurance contribution as indexed in a year = Total monthly income partly withheld for social insurance contribution in a year X Factor that indexes the monthly income already withheld partly for social insurance contribution in the respective year

(The indexing factor in 2017 for both cases is 1.00)

Circular No. 42/2016/TT-BLDTBXH comes into force as of January 01, 2017.

2. Basic vocational training aid for young adults

Circular 43/2016/TT-BLDTBXH, in effect as of February 12, 2017, regulates the vocational training aid for young adults who have fulfilled military service or police service or who volunteer to complete an economic - social development project.

The aid of basic vocational training thereof includes:

- Training aid: Pursuant to Article 10 of the Circular No. 152/2016/TT-BTC dated October 17, 2016.

- Meal allowance: VND 30,000/person/actual class day

- Transport allowance: VND 200,000/person/course if the training institution is at least 15 km away from the learner’s residence.

3. Criteria for trainers of occupational safety and hygiene

As of February 20, 2017, the Circular No. 02/2017/TT-BQP on the training in occupational safety and hygiene shall take effect.

The criteria for trainers of occupational safety and hygiene in bodies, agencies and enterprises under the Ministry of National Defense include:

- Occupational criteria: meet the requirements in Article 22 of the Decree No. 44/2016/ND-CP dated May 15, 2016.

- Political criteria: have a transparent personal record, be fit for military activities, possess fine morality and firm political perception, and be ready for all assignments.

- Continuous employment authenticated by competent agencies in a regiment or at higher level.

4. EPC contract price

Such content is prescribed in the Circular No. 30/2016/TT-BXD, in effect as of February 20, 2017, on guidelines for engineering, procurement and construction contracts.

- The fundamental form of EPC contract price is all-inclusive.

If another form of contract price is employed pursuant to Article 15 of the Decree No. 37/2015/ND-CP, the competent individual shall consider the characteristics and scale of a project or contract to decide the appropriate form.

- The all-inclusive contract price shall require the attachment of a price list of all works and items to the EPC contract.

- The adjustment of an EPC contract price shall be governed by the Circular No. 07/2016/TT-BXD dated March 10, 2016.

5. Circular No. 29/2016/TT-BXD on the technical safety inspection for constructional tower crane, elevator and aerial work platform shall come into force as of February 15, 2017.