According to the Government's Decree No 38/2022 stipulating the minimum wage for employees working under labour contracts, from July 1, 2022, the regional minimum wages will increase.

Specifically, the minimum wage for Region I will be VND4.68 million per month instead of VND4.42 million as currently; Region II VND4.16 million per month (instead of VND3.92 million); Region III VND3.64 million per month (instead of VND3.43million); Region IV VND3.25 million per month (instead of VND3.07 million)

The regional minimum wages will increase from July 1, 2022. Photo: Internet

In addition, regional minimum wages by hour are also regulated. Specifically, Region I is VND22,500  per hour; Region II VND20,000 per hour; Region III VND17,500 per hour and Region IV VND15,600 per hour.

Amendment of regulations on reporting of labour changes

Decree No 35/2022/ND-CP stipulating the management of industrial parks and economic zones has revised the regulations on reporting on labour use in Decree No 145/2020/ND-CP.

Accordingly, every six months (before June 5) and annually (before December 5), employers must report the labour change to the cities/provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and notify the district-level Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the district-level social insurance agency where the head office, branch or representative office is located.

Amendment of regulations on reporting of labour changes

Regarding the form of labour change report, the employer must report the change of labour to the cities/provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs through the National Public Service Portal according to Form No 01/PLI, Appendix I issued together with Decree No 145/2020/ND-CP and notify the district social insurance agency where the head office, branch or representative office is located.

In case the employer is unable to report the labour change through the National Public Service Portal, the report shall be submitted in paper form according to Form No 01/PLI Appendix I issued together with Decree No 145/ 2020/ND-CP to the cities/provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and notify the district social insurance agency.

For employees working in industrial parks and economic zones, the employer must report the change of labour to the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the district-level social insurance agency where the headquarters, branches, representative offices and Management Boards of industrial parks and economic zones are based for monitoring. This is new content in the reporting regulations.

Decree No 35/2022/ND-CP takes effect from July 15, 2022 and replaces Decree No 82/2018/ND-CP.

Higher master's exam score, fewer priority marks

New university enrollment regulations promulgated together with Circular No 08/2022 of the Ministry of Education and Training will officially take effect from July 22, 2022. This circular has many notable changes in the priority marks for candidates.

Specifically, from 2023, candidates with a total score of 22.5 or higher (when converted to points on a scale of 10 and a maximum total score of three subjects is 30) will get a priority mark that is the results of the following calculation.

Priority mark = [(30 - Total Score)/7.5] x Priority rate.

 New university enrollment regulations promulgated together with Circular 08/2022 of the Ministry of Education and Training to take effect

For example, if a candidate gets 24 points, the priority points added are actually only 4/5 of the maximum priority points. If the candidate reaches 27 points, the actual priority point added is only 2/5 of the maximum priority score. Candidates scoring 30 points will not be given priority points.

Thus, if the priority points are calculated according to the new exam regulations, the higher the total score, the fewer priority points the candidate will get.

In addition to the reduction in priority points for candidates with a total test score of over 22.5 points, the new exam regulations also limit the time to enjoy the regional priority scoring regime from 2023.

Accordingly, candidates are only entitled to the regional priority policy as prescribed in the year of graduating from high school (or intermediate school) and one more year thereafter.

Candidates who retake the exam after two years of graduating from high school are no longer eligible for regional priority points when applying for university admission.

Remove foreign language and computing certificates for accounting, tax and customs officials

From July 18, 2022, Circular No 29/2022 of the Ministry of Finance on codes, professional standards, professional qualifications and salary ranking of public servants in the accounting, tax, customs and reserve sectors will be officially in effect.

Accordingly, civil servants specialising in tax, accounting and customs are not required to show computing and foreign language certificates. However, if their job position requires them, they must master them proficiently.

Previously, according to Official Dispatch No 2499/BNV-CCVC, the Ministry of Home Affairs proposed that 74 ranks of civil servants would be exempt from foreign language and informatics certificates. And recently, it has been applied to civil servants specialising in administration and clerical work, in Circular No 02/2021/TT-BNV.

Foreign language and informatics certificates are not required for accounting, tax and customs officials from July 18

Lecturers studying PhDs abroad supported with tuition fees of up to US$25,000 per year

From July 20, 2022, Circular No 30/2022 of the Ministry of Finance guiding the financial mechanism for implementation of the Project on Capacity Building of lecturers and higher education staff will officially take effect. Specifically, those who are sent to study full-time doctoral and master's degrees abroad will be supported with tuition and fees related to tuition up to $25,000 per school year, passport and visa fees, living expenses including food, accommodation, travel, materials and school supplies according to the actual study time.

 Lecturers are supported with tuition fees up to $25,000 per year if studying a PhD abroad.

They are also funded to cover compulsory health insurance according to the regulations of the host country but not exceeding $1,000 per year, two-way airfares and travel expenses.

Those who are sent to study full-time doctoral studies in the country will be supported with tuition, funding for implementation of thesis topics, and attending seminars and conferences in the country with a support level of VND13-20 million per year.

Labourers in poor districts in coastal areas are supported to work abroad

The content of supporting laborers in poor districts and communes with special difficulties in coastal areas to work abroad is part of Circular No 09/2022/TT-BLDTBXH.

Accordingly, labourers of poor households, ethnic minority members in poverished districts and communes with special difficulties in flatlands, coastal areas and islands will be supported to work abroad as regulated in the provisions of Clause 1, Article 25 of Circular No 15/2022/TT-BTC.

Labourers from near-poor households, households that have just escaped poverty in impoverished districts, extremely difficult communes in flatlands, coastal areas and islands wishing to work abroad will get support for advanced foreign language qualifications and vocational training according to Clause 1, Article 25 of Circular No 15/2022/TT-BTC.

Other workers living in poor districts, coastal communes, coastal areas and islands wishing to work abroad will get financial support to improve their foreign language skills and vocational skills.

Workers and their relatives in poor districts and communes with special difficulties in lowland, coastal areas and islands will be supported to access and apply for contracted jobs overseas.

Employees participating in training courses to improve their foreign language skills to work abroad under the Agreement signed between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of the receiving country will be partially supported to cover language training costs.

Circular No 09/2022/TT-BLDTBXH takes effect from July 11, 2022./.