The Government’s regular meeting- January 2014

RESOLUTION

The Government’s regular meeting – January 2014

Pursuant to the Law on the Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to Government’s Decree 08/2012/ND-CP, dated February 16, 2012 promulgating the Working regulation of the Government;

Based on the discussion of the Cabinet’s members and the conclusion of the Prime Minister at the Government’s regular meeting held on January 25, 2014,

1. Regarding the socio-economic performance in January, 2014; the implementation of Resolution 01/NQ-CP dated January 2, 2014 on major solutions guiding and directing the realization of the Plan for socio-economic development and state budget estimate in 2014; preparatory work for the Lunar New Year holiday 2014 (Tet):

The Government unanimously agreed: Ministries, agencies and localities have grasped thoroughly and seriously implemented the Resolutions issued by the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly and the Government; promptly and synchronously realized the Action Programs to put the Resolution 01 into reality; focused on delegating 2014 specific tasks and budget estimates right from beginning of the year for active realization. The socio-economic performance was positive in the first month of 2014 with the consumer price index (CPI) increasing by 0.69% against last December, the lowest rate over the last five years; industrial production index (IPI) picked up around 3% against the same period last year; agro-forestry and fishery production was relatively stable; service sector continued to expand positively; the number of foreign tourists was on the rise. The disbursement value of foreign direct investment (FDI) saw a year-on-year surge of 3.3%. Social security was ensured; people’s life, especially the poor, ethnic minority groups, lonely elderly people, and the handicapped received due attention; political security, social order and safety were safeguarded, and external relations were strengthened.

All levels, sectors, mass organizations and local authorities early deployed measures to support people to enjoy the Tet holiday. The Party and State’s orientations and policies in favor of people with meritorious services to the revolution, policy beneficiary families, people in remote, far-reaching, border, island and extremely difficult areas and the poor have drawn much public support and attention. An abundant supply of goods on the domestic market met rising demands during the Tet holiday. Made-in-Viet Nam products dominated the domestic market. Food hygiene and safety, epidemic prevention were put under strict control. The transportation of passengers and goods met requirements and transport safety was ensured. The fight against trade frauds and smuggling was strengthened especially in key areas. Political security, social order and safety, particularly the prevention of crime, fires and explosions were ensured.

However, in the first month, the heavy cold spells in the Northern localities and salt water intrusion in some Southern provinces have caused negative impacts on agricultural production and vegetable, fruit and food supplies. The disadvantageous weather also affected aquaculture and fisheries. Traffic accidents and explosions occurred complicatedly in some provinces.

To successfully fulfill the socio-economic development plans since the beginning of the year, for a joyful, safe, healthy and economical Tet and for early resumption of business and production activities after the Tet, the Government requests that:

- Ministries, agencies and localities continue to quickly concretize solutions enshrined in the Resolution 01 dated January 2, 2014; resolve obstacles against business and production and ensure the progress of the Government’s Working Program in 2014 right from the start of the year; seriously realize Document No. 178-CV/TW dated December 31, 2013 of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on thrift practice, anti-wastefulness, and organization of activities on the occasion of the Tet holiday; Prime Minister’s Directive 25/CT-TTg dated December 5, 2013 and the Prime Minister’s Telegraph 98/CD-TTg dated January 15, 2014 on enhancing market price stabilization and ensuring social order and safety during the Tet holiday;

- The State Bank of Viet Nam promotes credit flow in favor of production and business right after the Tet holiday; especially credit allocation for aquaculture and fisheries in order to prevent and push back black credit activities;

The Ministry of Industry and Trade takes prime responsibility and works with other ministries, agencies and localities to expand the price stabilization models during and after Tet; minimize and put an end to the spending of State budget to offset lending interest rates for price stabilization; cooperates with competent agencies to enhance inspection and strictly punish acts of trade frauds, tax evasion, and price speculation, and especially manage and supervise strictly the transport of poultry and products of poultry origin along border transport lines in order to effectively prevent the spreading of avian influenza.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the People’s Committees of mountainous provinces frequently hit by heavy cold, ice and snow keep a close watch on real situations, prevent temporary goods shortage, and take urgent measures to protect animals, poultry and plants;

- The Ministry of Health takes measures to ensure food hygiene, strengthens investigations into food processing establishments, imposes tough punishments on infringements; and further improves the quality of medical check-ups and treatment for people;

- The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs takes prime responsibility and collaborates with other ministries, agencies, mass organizations, and localities to continue realizing the social welfare policies; timely and adequately provide physical and spiritual assistance for and ensure that poor families, social beneficiaries, people with meritorious services to the revolution, lonely elderly persons, and victims of natural disasters would be able to enjoy  a warm and happy Tet without suffering from hunger and cold during the Tet holiday and between-crop period in 2014.

- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Television of Viet Nam, the Voice of Viet Nam design plans on organization of cultural and art activities to create jubilant atmosphere and consolidate people’s confidence on the threshold of the new year;

- The Ministry of Transport takes primes responsibility and works with other ministries, agencies and localities to conduct synchronous measurements to meet increasing demand for public transport before, during and after Tet holiday; inspect and punish ticket speculation and reduce overload;

- The Ministry of Public Security takes prime responsibility and collaborates with other ministries, agencies and localities to safeguard political security, social order and safety; combat crime, prevent fires and explosions during Tet holiday; arrange forces to inspect, control and ensure transport safety, minimize traffic congestions and accidents, especially in big cities, key sites and urban areas;

- Ministries of Public Security, Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Transport, Industry and Trade, Health, Labor-Invalid-Social Affairs, and the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-governed cities have to make timely and full reports on market, services, and prices of essential commodities; social welfare; support for policy beneficiary families, ethnic minorities, residents in in remote, far-reaching, border and island areas; public healthcare, protection of food hygiene and disease prevention; cultural, sports and entertainment activities;  information and communication; political security, social order and safety; and transport safety;

- The Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant ministries and agencies report to the Prime Minister about Tet preparation work and tasks after the Tet holiday. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and Governmental bodies, chairmen of the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-governed cities quickly deployed preset tasks and plans after the Tet holiday without affecting business and production during and after the holiday.

2. For the labor outsourcing issue of the Viet Nam Airlines Corporation (VNA):

To resolve the obstacle of the VNA in production and business in accordance with the restructuring plan which had been approved by the Prime Minister, the Government agreed that:

a) The General Aviation Import-Export Joint Stock Company under the VNA would be allowed to outsource jobs under the list of heavy, hazardous and/or dangerous or particularly heavy, hazardous and/or dangerous jobs issued by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA).  

b) The MOLISA is responsible for presenting a new decree to amend and supplement Decree 55/2013/ND-CP before March 30, 2014.

3. Regarding the implementation of Clause 1, Article 43 of Decree 95/2013/ND-CP, dated August 22, 2013 on penalties for administrative violations against regulations on labor, social insurance and overseas manpower supply.

The Government approved of the proposal of the MOLISA in which Vietnamese guest workers who decamp from factories they work under contracts or illegally stay in foreign countries after the expiry of their labor contracts would be exempted from fines as stipulated in Article 35 of Decree 95/2013/ND-CP, dated August 22, 2013 if they voluntarily return home before March 10, 2014.

4. Regarding the draft law on registration of civil status:

The Ministry of Public Security takes prime responsibility and collaborates with the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Government and other relevant agencies to collect comments of the Assessment Council and the Cabinet members for finalization of the draft law and consult the Steering Committee for the implementation of the Master plan to simplify administrative procedures, citizenship papers and database related to population management in the 2013-2020 period; report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision before submitting it to the National Assembly.

5. Regarding the Law and Ordinance-Making Program in 2015        

- Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and Governmental bodies focus on reviewing draft legal documents which would be added to the Law and Ordinance-Making Program in 2015 and put forth necessary and feasible adjustments to the Law and Ordinance-Making Program in 2014; 

- The Ministry of Justice strictly assesses the development of the Program; supervises, investigates and inspects the implementation of the Law and Ordinance-Making Program. For inter-ministerial and controversial draft laws and ordinances, the Ministry which is responsible for composition actively study, propose, and report to the Prime Minister for instructions in a bid to ensure the quality and feasibility of these draft documents. The Ministry of Finance arranges expenditure for the law making process.

- The Ministry of Justice takes prime responsibility to compose and submits it to the Prime Minister for issuing a decision on the establishment of a council to assess draft laws and ordinances under the Law and Ordinance-Making Programs in 2014 and 2015 after the NA passes the Programs;

- The Ministry of Justice takes the prime responsibility and works with the Office of Government and other relevant agencies to collect the Cabinet members’ comments on and edit the Government’s draft proposals for the Law and Ordinance-Making Program in 2015; adjust the Law and Ordinance-Making Programs for the 13^th tenure and 2014; then report to the Prime Minister in February, 2014 before submitting them to the NA Standing Committee.

6. Regarding the draft Resolution on key tasks and solutions to improve business environment and national competitiveness in the 2014-2015 period

The Cabinet members directly comment on the draft Resolution and send their feedbacks to the Office of Government before February 20, 2014. The Office of Government is in charge of collecting comments from the Cabinet members, finalizing the document and presenting it to the Government at its regular meeting held in February.

7.   Regarding the outcomes of the ministerial and provincial-level public administrative reform index 2012 (PAR INDEX 2012):

The Government listened to the report prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the PAR INDEX 2012 and assigned ministries, agencies and localities especially their leaders to take specific measures to overcome low scores and improve quality and efficiency of their administrative reform plans.

The Ministry of Home Affairs takes prime responsibility and works with other ministries, agencies and localities to ensure that PAR INDEX would be announced annually at the beginning of Quarter 2 in practical, transparent and timely manner./.