HÀ TĨNH — Authorities in central Hà Tĩnh Province denied the connection between Formosa’s waste water discharge and the reddish streak appeared on water edge near the province’s Sơn Dương wharf. A joint force between local authorities and the Institute of Environmental Technology yesterday afternoon announced their testing results and affirmed that the reddish streak did not start from the Hưng Nghiệp Formosa Steel Corporation’s sullage pit. Nguyễn Văn Toàn, the institute’s inspector said his taskforce team had arrived at the site to monitor the discharge of Formosa and took samples for testing three times in a month and at different time a day, but no link between the streak…
Ministry refines apartment regulations
HA NOI (VNS)— The construction ministry recently issued a circular on the management and use of apartment buildings, which is expected to improve the relationship between residents, investors and the building’s management boards. As apartment buildings become popular in crowded cities along with the country’s rapid urbanisation and growing population, the lack of clear regulations about the management and use of apartment buildings have resulted in conflicts between the relevant parties, affecting residents’ life and undermining trust. Circular No 02/2016/TT-BXD, which will take effect on April 2, is expected to tackle the problems. The service operation fee, one of the greatest concerns of apartment residents, is calculated based on the…
Foreign visitors to Viet Nam increase by 3.5% in February
HA NOI (VNS) — More than 833,000 foreign visitors entered Viet Nam in February, a 3.5 per cent increase from the previous month and 20 per cent surge year-on-year. According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), the latest addition has brought the number of foreign arrivals to the country in the first two months up to approximately 1.64 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 16 per cent. Foreign arrivals by air reached about 1.33 million, up 14.2 per cent year-on-year while arrivals by road saw a yearly rise of 31.3 per cent to 288,000. However, arrivals by sea declined 22 per cent to number 24,200. During the reviewed period, the…
NA aims to pass four draft laws in final session
HA NOI (VNS) — The last session of the National Assembly’s (NA) 13th tenure will officially open on March 21 and wrap up on April 14, the NA announced yesterday. Four new draft laws are expected to be reviewed and passed during the 11th session, including the Law on Information Access, amendments and supplements to articles in the Value Added Tax Law, and the Laws on Excise Tax and Tax Management. The NA will also look into amendments made to five laws regulating the conclusion, accession and implementation of treaties; the press; the protection, care and education of children; and the pharmaceutical and import/export duty. The session – the last…
Treatment of rare diseases in VN is expensive
The conference was held on Sunday to mark International Rare Disease Day. A rare disease is defined as one that affects one in 500 people to one in 2,000 people. An estimated 350 million people suffer from rare diseases in the world. While a majority of the conditions are genetic in origin, others are the result of infections, and environment or degenerative factors. Rare diseases usually appear in early in life and about 30 per cent of the children with rare diseases die before the age of five. Dr Vu Chi Dung, head of the department of endocrinology, medical genetics and metabolism under the National Hospital of Pediatrics (NHP), said…
Exchange rate to be stable in 2016
Hanoi (VNA) – The exchange rate in 2016 will not have big changes in order to ensure macro-economic stability and support economic growth in accordance with the Government’s orientations, according to Bui Quoc Dung, head of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)’s Monetary Policy Department. Dung said that before the SBV implemented its new exchange rate management by announcing the central rate daily, many economists and organisations had forecast an increase of 5-7 percent in the exchange rate. However, the forecasts changed as the central bank’s move helped stabilise the forex market and made the exchange rate decrease sharply. The Standard Chartered Bank predicted a rise of 1-2 percent in…
Vietnam supports ASEAN’s cooperation priorities
Vientiane (VNA) – Vietnam fully backs ASEAN’s cooperation priorities in 2016 initiated by Laos as this year’s ASEAN Chair, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. The official made the remarks at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat which took place in Vientiane, Laos, on February 27. Vietnam will closely coordinate with Laos and other ASEAN member countries to help Laos successfully perform the ASEAN Chairmanship, he pledged. Minh shared with other ASEAN FMs’ viewpoints on the need for the ten-member group to prioritise maintaining peace and stability in the region amidst the complicated regional security. The FMs urged ASEAN to uphold its key role in settling regional…
VN satellite to enter space by 2018
HA NOI (VNS) — A 50kg satellite, measuring 50x50x50cm, will be launched into space by Viet Nam in 2018. The MicroDragon satellite will be designed and created by Vietnamese engineers, with the support of Japanese experts. Japan’s Epsilon rocket, created by IHI Aerospace company, will carry the MicroDragon satellite into space. The satellite will observe the coastal areas of the country to evaluate water quality, navigate marine food resources and follow up on changes in coastal areas to inform Viet Nam’s aquaculture breeding sector. Director of Viet Nam National Satellite Centre (VNSC) Pham Anh Tuan said the MicroDragon project is expected to help create an environment in which young people…
Viet Nam, Japan parliamentary groups boost links
HA NOI (VNS) — Viet Nam has continued to facilitate the development of ties with Japan for the benefit of the two peoples, as well as for stability, peace and prosperity in the region, Chairman of the Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group (VJFPG) To Huy Rua said. Receiving special advisor to the Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance Tsutomo Takebe in Ha Noi on February 22, Rua spoke highly of his guest’s dedication to furthering the friendship between Vietnam and Japan, and between the two groups in particular over the past 20 years. He made it clear that the VJFPG backs activities of the Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance. The host…
Vice chairwoman meets with Japanese official
HA NOI (VNS) — National Assembly vice chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan yesterday received Japan’s Gunma Governor Osawa Masaaki in Ha Noi. Talking to Masaaki, who was in Viet Nam for a seminar introducing the investment potential of his province and on co-operation with Viet Nam, Ngan said the NA highly applauded such activities and hoped the two countries’ provinces and cities would further strengthen mutual co-operation. Ngan also said the NA would continue to create favourable conditions for Gunma firms to come and invest in Viet Nam. She said she hoped co-operation on tourism, medical training and people-to-people exchange will be further developed. For his part, Masaaki told Ngan…
Rice aid to reach the poor during Tet
Hanoi (VNA) – Disadvantaged residents of northern Tuyen Quang, and central Nghe An provinces will receive almost 3,900 tonnes of rice from the national reserves as the Government’s assistance in the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Most of the allocation, at more than 3,600 tonnes, will come to 241,154 households in Nghe An. The remainder will benefit 17,947 households in Tuyen Quang. Each member of these households will receive 15 kilograms of rice within the month.-VNA (http://en.vietnamplus.vn/rice-aid-to-reach-the-poor-during-tet/87474.vnp)
Tet gifts come to officers, people on southwestern islands
Kien Giang (VNA) – Representatives from the High Command of Naval Zone 5 and several southern localities and businesses on January 10 started visiting and presenting gifts to military officers and people on southwestern islands on the threshold of the Lunar New Year (Tet). In five days until January 15, the delegation plans to stop at Phu Quoc, Tho Chu, Nam Du, Hon Khoai, Hon Chuoi and Hon Doc islands. According to Deputy Military Commander Nguyen Van Dong, the annual activity aims to encourage officers who are safeguarding islands in the southwestern part of the nation. To improve the spiritual life of the officers during the holiday, Chung cake (Vietnamese…
HCM City seeks 65,000 workers in 2016
HCM City (VNA) – HCM City needs 65,000 workers in the first quarter of 2016, according to the city’s Human Resource Forecast and Labour Market Information Centre. Tran Anh Tuan, deputy director of the centre, said the jobs in high demand are in the fields including marketing, sales, tourism service, hospitality, construction, health care services and househelper services. In March, demand will be high for workers in textiles and garments, footwear, food processing, transportation, import-export services. The shortage of labourers after Tet (Lunar New Year) is expected to range from 3-4 percent. Staff turnover is forecast to be more than 10 percent of the total employed workforce after Tet.-VNA (http://en.vietnamplus.vn/hcm-city-seeks-65000-workers-in-2016/86922.vnp)
Big names to appear at 2016 Vietnam Motorcycle Show
HCM City (VNA) – Some of the world’s top motorcycle producers and companies in supporting industries as well as Vietnamese importers will participate in the 2016 Vietnam Motorcycle Show in HCM City next April. Organised by the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM), it will feature names like Honda, Piaggio, Suzuki, SYM, and Yamaha. VAMM said the event would take place from April 7 to 10 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in District 7. In the context of the maturity attained by the country’s motorcycle market, the event is set to be an important one for motorbike manufacturers and importers. Many of the latest motorbikes will be on…
Gia Lai fulfill target of preschool education universalization
Gia Lai (VNA) – All 17 districts and towns in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai have met target of universal preschool education for five-year-old children, according to the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET). An inspection by the MoET from December 22-24 showed that 99.7 percent of five-year-old children in Gia Lai attended school this year and 99.3 percent of them completed kindergarten programme. The rate of school attendance among other age groups also rose remarkably, with 76 percent of children aging from 3-5 going to kindergarten in 2015, compared to 68.7 percent in 2011. The results were spurred by the efficient planning of school network and prompt…
Hanoi promotes use of biofuel
Hanoi promotes use of biofuel Hanoi (VNA) – The Hanoi People’s Committee has said local committees and other city agencies should use the E5 biofuel, which contains five percent ethanol, in their official cars. The committee will stop reimbursing the bills for regular fuel purchases by offices and authoritative bodies being funded by the state budget from the beginning of next year. The committee also said its officials should use the biofuel in their personal vehicles. The city’s department of trade and industry has been asked to ensure stable and sufficient supply of the E5 biofuel to meet the market demand.-VNA (http://en.vietnamplus.vn/hanoi-promotes-use-of-biofuel/86722.vnp)
Credit growth this year positive at 18 percent
Hanoi (VNA) – Credit this year could reach roughly 18 percent, meeting the capital demands of the economy, Deputy Director of the State Bank of Vietnam’s Monetary Policy Department Nguyen Duc Long said. Long noted that the rise in credit was an indication of positive economic growth and improved consumption in the domestic market. Further, according to Long, the increase in credit was seen in the beginning of the year and continuing every month, instead of only during a few months at year-end, as seen last year. Statistics from the central bank showed that lending rose 14.5-15 percent in the first 11 months. Also, the SBV reported that credit growth…
Workshop enhances women’s legal understanding, access
Hanoi (VNA) – A workshop was held on December 7 in Hanoi to enhance legal understanding among women and facilitate their access to legal assistance. The event was organised by the UN Women Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women). In her opening remarks, Shoko Ishikawa, UN Women Country Representative in Vietnam, said that the revision of the Law on Legal Aid has enhanced access to legal aid services for Vietnamese women. Director of the Legal Aid Bureau under the Ministry of Justice Nguyen Thi Minh said the 2013 Constitution has ensured women’s legitimate right to legal aid access– particularly those who are victims of domestic violence…
Hanoi enforces registration of electric bikes
Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi Police would implement mandatory registration of electric scooters and bikes from December 6, said Nguyen Manh Hung, deputy head of the Hanoi Road and Railway Traffic Police Division. Vehicle owners found violating the law after December 6 will be fined, according to Decree 171 issued by the government. By the middle of 2016, Hanoi Traffic Police will deal with all unregistered vehicles that are still being used. Such vehicle owners will be fined amounts ranging from 80,000 VND (3.5 USD) to a maximum of 1 million VND (44.4 USD). In addition, when electric motor vehicle owners violate traffic laws, they will be subject to other forms…
Vietnam, Japan enhance cooperation in trade unions
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) and the Japan National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) are strengthening cooperation, thus contributing to driving the relations between the two countries forward. President of the VGCL Dang Ngoc Tung and Zenroren Chairman Yohikazu Odagawa discussed cooperation orientation and potential between Vietnamese and Japanese trade unions during their talks in Hanoi on November 30. Tung said the two organisations have actively worked to protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers. He added that he hopes the two trade unions will further cooperative ties for information and experience exchanges as well as better protection of employees. This is significant in…
No time for exercise after work
Female workers of Thai Binh northern province’s Job Services Centre didn’t know how to react to regulation that all workers have to take afternoon exercise at the office building’s gym after working time. If they don’t obeyed the strict rules, each violator will be fined VND15,000 (22 cents) per day. All workers have to abide by the regulation including when feeding an infant or feeling ill, except that he/she has doctor’s prescription. The rule, set up one year ago by the Labour Union of the Centre, under the Thai Binh Province’s Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Department aimed to help workers improve their health condition, a Labour Union official explained.…
Japan helps Vietnam build safe nuclear power plants
Ninh Thuan (VNA) – Japan will help Vietnam build nuclear power plants in the central province of Ninh Thuan with the highest level of international safety standards. Japan will also support human resources training as well as safe and effective operation of nuclear power plants, Japanese Counsellor to Vietnam Nakajima Yoshito said at a workshop in Ninh Thuan on November 12. After resuming the provision of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in 1993, Japan sealed a project to upgrade the Da Nhim hydropower plant and implemented several projects to improve small-scale infrastructure and North-South railway, in Ninh Thuan, he said. Japan is currently a strategic partner of Vietnam in…
HCM City to reduce staff by 14,000 by 2021
HCM City plans to reduce its white-collar employees by 14,000 by 2021, according to a municipal Interior Affairs Department plan. The plan aims at restructuring the number of employees at State-and Government-owned agencies, as well as attracting more talented people to work for the agencies. The plan also seeks to increase the capability and effectiveness of the State- and Government-owned agencies and reform the salary system. The workforce reduction will also eliminate unqualified staff, who are seen as diminishing the effectiveness of the currently cumbersome systems. At present, the city has 56 administrative agencies and nearly 1,700 State-owned offices. This year, the municipal authority has approved a quota on employees…
Weak English skills hinder local employees
VietNamNet Bridge – A Navigos Search report entitled Challenges in Recruiting and Retaining Mid-level and Senior Employees for Foreign Firms in Vietnam published on November 3 has revealed that even though local employees are considered hard-working, they have trouble with English. The report is part of a series of surveys conducted in Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Japan by the En World Group, of which Navigos Search is a member. According to the survey, 41% of firms couldn’t recruit enough local employees to fill middle and high-ranking positions in the last 12 months and only 9% were satisfied with the employees’ English skills. In Thailand and Singapore, 52% and 53% also…
Amended law on media expected to allow greater journalistic freedoms
Hanoi (VNA) – The National Assembly on November 4 said some provisions in the draft of the amended law on media still hindered media freedom and asked the drafting committee to ensure the law doesn’t intervene too much in media activities. The comments were made on November 4 by the NA’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescents and Children. While saying that draft law has adapted to changes in society to regulate the media’s activities, the committee also asked the drafting committee to study further and make adjustments. For instance, the committee said it was unnecessary for the law to require complicated procedures for attaining media activities licences, which it…
Revised Commercial Law to be in line with economic integration
The Commercial Law should be revised in line with the current legal system and market, said Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, Director of the Department of Legal Affairs under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, at a workshop on October 20 in Ho Chi Minh City. Since 2008, the People’s Courts at all levels have handled more than 81,000 trade-related cases with nearly 65,000 of them settled, according to the Supreme People’s Court. The figure is expected to increase in the coming time, when Vietnam enters free trade agreements, Tan said, adding that the revised law should create a full legal corridor for handling trade disputes. Meanwhile, Prof. Do Van Dai,…
Experience in building Pharmacy Law shared
The Pharmacy Law has helped strengthen State management over pharmacies and ensured the people’s right to quality medicine over its 10 years in existence, but now it needs to be updated, said Deputy Health Minister Pham Le Tuan. Tuan made the statement on October 9 at a workshop where participants shared experience and discussed how to build a better Pharmacy Law to protect patients. The Drug Administration of Vietnam and the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam organised the event. According to Tuan, the Ministry of Health recently submitted the 2005 Pharmacy Law to the National Assembly for revision. Experience learnt at the workshop would help complete the amended law,…
Labour confederation calls for higher wages
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) on October 6 proposed a new minimum wage increase of 14.4 percent for the 2016 year, higher than the 12.4 percent increase decided by the National Wage Council back in September. The confederation stood firm by the argument that the country’s workers were entitled to a minimum wage increase at least equal to the previous year, roughly 14 percent. They said that, especially with positive signs in the economy’s first nine months of this year, wages should reflect next year’s promising outlook. The 14.4 percent increase was also justified by pointing to this year’s 0.5 percent year-on-year increase in GDP growth, projected to…
HCM City in need of manual workers
More manual workers will be recruited over the next three months in HCM City to prepare for the Tet holiday next year, a survey conducted by the Centre for Human Resource Forecast and Labour Information has found. Manual workers comprise 35 percent of the 70,000 employees (about 24,500 people) needed in the year’s fourth quarter. Of the total, 17,000 employees will be needed for October; 20,000 for November and 33,000 for December. Most of the employees will be hired in fields such as sales, services, IT, textile-garment, tourism, and insurance. About 30,000 seasonal jobs, many of them in sales, textile-garment and, hospitality, will also be needed. In the third quarter,…
University graduates face high unemployment
Recent statistics from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs highlight that the nation has issues to tackle in its development of human resources. Unemployment amongst graduate and post-graduate workers in Vietnam jumped from 162,000 to 178,000 in the first three months of the year. The national unemployment rate is at 2.43 percent, yet workers with college degrees are facing the highest unemployment rate of 7.2 percent. These numbers were mentioned at the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM)’s conference held in Hanoi on September 29, where attendees discussed measures to better develop the nation’s human resources. Speaking at the conference, CIEM Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Tue Anh said…