Noticeable policies to take effect from March 2nd to 10th, 2015

1. Regulations on the teaching internship of college lecturers 

From March 2nd, 2015, the Circular No. 01/2015/TT-BGDDT shall be officially put into effect. According to this Circular, regulations on the teaching internship of college lecturers shall be adopted as follows:

Those who are employed as lecturers are required to complete 12 months' internship, except when they have gained at least 12 months’ experience in teaching at universities or colleges.

If such lecturers have achieved the doctorate degree and gained their teaching experience over their postgraduate study period, the college headmaster shall consider reducing their internship duration.    

Internship duration must be agreed in the employment contract.

Not later than 07 working days from the date on which teaching interns are offered the jobs, the Head of an academic subject or department must assign lecturers who have proved their teaching competence and experience or academic profession to instruct such interns. 

2. Changes to lawyer registration forms

From March 5th, 2015, the Circular No. 02/2015/TT-BTP stipulating several forms of documents about lawyers and law practice shall take effect.

In this Circular, regulatory contents concerning the responsibility of the socio-professional organization for lawyers, Vietnam lawyer association, foreign lawyer association operated in Vietnam, socio-professional organization for lawyers in private practice, for generating required documents or records, as stipulated in Article 34, 36 and Appendix 1, 2 of the Circular No. 17/2011/TT-BTP, shall become invalid from the effective date of this Circular.

Documents prepared according to the form stipulated in Article 36 of the Circular No.17 which are issued before the effective date of this Circular shall remain valid.

3. Adjustment to the salary deducted for payment of social insurance premiums in 2015

From March 9th, the Circular No. 03/2015/TT-BLDTBXH on adjustment to the salary, wage and monthly income deducted for payment of social insurance premiums shall come into effect.

In this Circular, the applicable entities shall include:

- Entities subjected to the adjustment to the salary or wage deducted for payment of social insurance premiums from January 1st to December 31st, 2015 as prescribed in Article 2 of the Decree 83/2008/ND-CP.  

- Entities subjected to the adjustment to monthly income deducted for payment of social insurance premiums from January 1st to December 31st, 2015 as prescribed in Article 2 of the Decree 134/2008/ND-CP.  

The Circular shall stipulate:

- Adjustment rate of the salary or wage deducted for payment of social insurance premiums in the corresponding year must conform to the Table 1 shown in Article 2.

- Adjustment rate of the monthly income deducted for payment of social insurance premiums in the corresponding year must conform to the Table 2 shown in Article 3.

4. Addition of plant varieties permitted to be cultivated and traded in Vietnam

From March 9th, 2015, some of additional plant varieties shall be permitted to be cultivated and traded in Vietnam, including the followings: 

- Mandarin orange variety PQ1 permitted to be cultivated throughout the provinces located in the North Central Coast.

- Tea variety TB14 permitted to be cultivated throughout the provinces located in the Central Highlands.

- Cross-bred maize DK6818, PAC 339, PAC 999 Super, waxy corn variety Fancy 111 permitted to be cultivated nationwide.

For further information, please have a look at the supplemented list of plant varieties permitted to be cultivated and traded in Vietnam issued together with the Circular No.01/2015/TT-BNNPTNT. />
5. The Decree on an increase of 8% in pension

From January 1st, 2015, an increase of 8% in pension, social insurance benefit and monthly allowance shall be applicable to the following entities:

- Cadres, officials, public servants and employees; soldiers, people’s police and cipher employees entitled to monthly pension. 

- Cadres working at communes, wards and towns, as stipulated in the Decree No. 92/2009/ND-CP, 121/2003/ND-CP and 09/1998/ND-CP, who are currently entitled to pension and monthly allowance.

 - Persons who are entitled to monthly benefits for their work incapacity in accordance with laws; monthly allowances in accordance with the Decision No. 91/2000/QD-TTg, 613/QD-TTg issued in 2010; workers employed at rubber plantations who are entitled to monthly benefits. 

- Cadres working at communes, wards and towns in accordance with the Decision No. 130/CP issued in 1975 and the Decision No. 111-HDBT in 1981.

- Soldiers who are entitled to the monthly benefit in accordance with the Decision No. 142/2008/QD-TTg and 38/2010/QD-TTg. />
 - People’s police who are entitled to the monthly benefit in accordance with the Decision No. 53/2010/QD-TTg. />
- Soldiers, people’s police and cipher employees paid salary the same as soldiers and people’s police who are entitled to monthly benefit in accordance with the Decision No. 62/2011/QD-TTg.

The above-mentioned contents shall be stipulated in the Decree No. 09/2015/ND-CP and come into effect from March 10th, 2015.

6. New regulations on motor vehicle modification

From March 10th, 2015, the modification of motor vehicles must comply with regulations laid down in the Circular No. 85/2014/TT-BGTVT.

In this Circular, several new contents shall be stipulated as follows:

- Any change to the drive system of motor vehicles shall not be allowed, except for imported ones designed with right-hand drive system.

- The modification or installation of bunk beds to passenger coaches shall not be allowed.

- Any increase in size of luggage storage compartment of passenger coaches shall not be allowed.

- Any modification which is required to enable the disabled to use these vehicles and complies with regulations laid down in Article 4 of the Circular No. 85 shall be permitted as usual.

- Modified motor vehicles being dump trucks, tanker vehicles and trucks must have proper specifications in accordance with regulations laid down in the Circular No. 42/2014/TT-BGTVT.

This Circular shall replace the Circular No. 29/2012/TT-BGTVT.