Circular No. 04/2017/TT-BTNMT on establishing economic and technical norms for the natural resources and environment sector

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the establishment of economic and technical norms

sector of natural resources and environment

Pursuant to the Law on Legislative Documents dated June 22, 2015;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 34/2016/NĐ-CP dated May 14, 2016 detailing certain provisions and measures for implementing the Law on Legislative Acts of Regulations;

BASED ON Decree No. 21/2013/NĐ-CP dated March 4, 2013 of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Pursuant to Decree No. 60/2021/NĐ-CP dated June 21, 2021, which establishes the financial autonomy mechanism for public service organizations, as amended and supplemented by Decree No. 111/2025/NĐ-CP dated May 22, 2025; Natural Resources and Environment;

AT THE SUGGESTION OF the Director of the Planning Department and the Director of the Legal Department;

THE MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT ISSUES THIS CIRCULAR TO REGULATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS IN THE FIELD OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

THIS CIRCULAR REGULATES MEASURES FOR MANAGING THE WORK OF ESTABLISHING ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT INCLUDING: DEVELOPING, APPROVING, AND ADJUSTING THE PROGRAM FOR ESTABLISHING ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS; BUILDING, REVIEWING, AND ISSUING ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS; CONTENT AND PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES OF ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS.

Article 2. Applicability

THIS CIRCULAR APPLIES TO UNITS UNDER THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT; PROVINCE DEPARTMENTS OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT UNDER CENTRAL DIRECTLY-GOVERNED CITIES; ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS RELATED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS) WITHIN THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE MINISTRY).

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS STANDARDS): ARE THE NECESSARY LEVELS OF CONSUMPTION OF LABOR, RAW MATERIALS, FUELS, MACHINES, EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MEANS TO COMPLETE A UNIT OF PRODUCT (OR A SPECIFIED QUANTITY OF WORK), UNDER SPECIFIC CONDITIONS OF BASIC SURVEY ACTIVITIES IN SECTORS UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MINISTRY.

2. TOOLS ARE TYPES OF ASSETS THAT DO NOT MEET THE CURRENT NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FIXED ASSETS BUT ARE USED BY WORKERS TO TRANSFORM MATERIALS INTO PRODUCTS (PLIERS, HAMMERS, SOCKET WRENCHES, SAFETY CLOTHING, AND SIMILAR ITEMS).

3. MATERIALS ARE INPUTS IN A PRODUCTION PROCESS OR SPECIFIC SPECIALIZED TASKS, WHICH ARE COMPLETELY ALTERED BY WORKERS TO BECOME PRODUCTS AS REQUIRED.

4. MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT ARE LABOR TOOLS THAT ARE PHYSICAL FIXED ASSETS AND INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS ACCORDING TO CURRENT NATIONAL STANDARDS ON FIXED ASSETS (EXCLUDING FACTORIES AND LAND USE RIGHTS) USED BY WORKERS TO TRANSFORM MATERIALS INTO PRODUCTS.

Article 4. Principles for Establishing Norms

1. COMPLY WITH TECHNICAL PROCEDURES, TECHNICAL REGULATIONS, OR NATIONAL TECHNICAL STANDARDS OF PRODUCTS FOR WHICH STANDARDS ARE ESTABLISHED, MEETING GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STRUCTURE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF STANDARDS, ENSURING ADVANCEMENT, CONSISTENCY, AND HERITABILITY (IF ANY) OF THE INDUSTRY AND SECTOR.

2. STANDARDS MUST BE ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE STABILITY AND IMPLEMENTED OVER A LONG PERIOD. WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN TECHNOLOGY OR OTHER FACTORS MAKING THE STANDARDS NO LONGER SUITABLE FOR PRACTICAL NEEDS, THE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS APPLYING THE STANDARDS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT TO THE MINISTRY FOR REVIEW AND ADJUSTMENT OR REESTABLISHMENT AS APPROPRIATE.

3. STANDARDS FOR SIMILAR STEPS IN DIFFERENT SPECIALIZED TASKS UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MINISTRY MUST BE ENSURED TO BE CONSISTENT, WITHOUT DIFFERENCES OR CONTRADICTIONS.

4. ENSURE CONCENTRATION AND CONSISTENCY IN THE MINISTRY'S STATE MANAGEMENT OF THE WORK OF ESTABLISHING STANDARDS; ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE THE INITIATIVE OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN ESTABLISHING STANDARDS IN THE FIELD OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT.

Article 5. Budget for establishing standard rates

FUNDS FOR ESTABLISHING STANDARDS ARE DRAWN FROM THE STATE BUDGET OR OTHER SOURCES. THE ESTABLISHMENT, ALLOCATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS FOR ESTABLISHING STANDARDS ARE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH LEGAL REGULATIONS.

Chapter II

PROCEDURE FOR ESTABLISHING STANDARD RATES

Section 1

DEVELOPMENT AND ADJUSTMENT OF THE PROGRAM FOR ESTABLISHING STANDARDS

Article 6. Basis for establishing the Program for Establishing Standard Rates

1. ASSIGNED ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONS OF LEGAL DOCUMENTS OR DOCUMENTS OF AUTHORITATIVE STATE AGENCIES.

2. PROPOSALS FROM UNITS UNDER THE MINISTRY.

3. PROPOSALS AND PETITIONS FROM OTHER AUTHORITIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS EXCEPT THOSE MENTIONED IN CLAUSE 2 OF THIS ARTICLE.

Article 7. Establishment of the Program for Establishing Standard Rates

1. NOT LATER THAN JUNE 30 OF THE LAST YEAR OF THE PLAN PERIOD, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS MUST SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR ESTABLISHING STANDARDS TO THE ADVISORY AND COMBINED UNIT OF THE MINISTRY’S PLANNING WORK AND THE SPECIALIZED MANAGEMENT UNITS UNDER THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT FOR REVIEW AND COMBINATION.

PROPOSALS FOR ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FROM ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS MUST CLEARLY STATE: THE NAME OF THE STANDARD, THE NECESSITY OF ESTABLISHING THE STANDARD, THE LEADING AGENCY, THE COOPERATING AGENCIES, THE IMPLEMENTATION TIMEFRAME, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

2. SPECIALIZED MANAGEMENT UNITS UNDER THE MINISTRY, ACCORDING TO THEIR FUNCTIONAL TASKS, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING, COMBINING, PROVIDING OPINIONS, AND PROPOSING A LIST OF STANDARDS UNDER THEIR MANAGEMENT ACCORDING TO MODEL NUMBER 01 ISSUED WITH THIS CIRCULAR AND SUBMITTING IT TO THE ADVISORY AND COMBINED UNIT OF THE MINISTRY’S PLANNING WORK FOR REVIEW AND OPINION BEFORE SUBMITTING TO THE MINISTRY LEADERSHIP FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

3. WITHIN 20 DAYS FROM RECEIVING PROPOSALS FOR ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FROM UNITS, THE ADVISORY AND COMBINED UNIT OF THE MINISTRY’S PLANNING WORK SHALL TAKE THE LEAD AND COORDINATE WITH RELATED UNITS TO STUDY, REVIEW, AND PROVIDE OPINIONS ON THE PROPOSALS FOR ESTABLISHING STANDARDS. THE REVIEW FOCUSES ON THE FOLLOWING ISSUES:

a) THE NECESSITY OF ESTABLISHING THE STANDARD;

b) THE SCOPE OF REGULATION AND APPLICATION OF THE STANDARD;

c) THE CONSISTENCY AND FEASIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED CONTENTS;

d) THE TIMEFRAME AND CAPABILITY TO COMPLETE;

e) THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR ESTABLISHING THE STANDARD.

4. IF THE PROPOSAL FOR ESTABLISHING THE STANDARD NEEDS TO BE REVISED OR COMPLEMENTED, WITHIN 20 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THE OPINION OF THE ADVISORY AND COMBINED UNIT OF THE MINISTRY’S PLANNING WORK, THE UNIT PROPOSING THE LIST OF STANDARDS HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO INCORPORATE, EXPLAIN, AND PERFECT THE CONTENT OF THE PROPOSED LIST AND SUBMIT IT TO THE ADVISORY AND COMBINED UNIT OF THE MINISTRY’S PLANNING WORK.

Article 8. Issuance of the Program to Establish Norms

1. The Program to Establish Norms shall be established for a planning period of three (3) to five (5) years.

2. At the latest before September 30 of the last year of the planning period, the Unit responsible for advising and consolidating planning work at the Ministry shall have the responsibility to compile and construct the Program to Establish Economic and Technical Norms within the scope of management under the Ministry, to be submitted for approval by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (hereinafter referred to as the Program).

3. The Program shall include the following main contents:

a) Name of the norm;

b) The leading unit to implement;

c) The units to coordinate;

d) Time of implementation;

d) Other necessary contents.

Article 9. Adjustment and Supplement to the Program

1. The adjustment and supplement to the Program shall be carried out once during the middle year of the planning period.

2. Cases for adjustment and supplement:

a) Changes or additions to technological processes, technical regulations, or national technical standards;

b) Based on practical requirements for implementing tasks;

c) In accordance with urgent needs of state administrative management.

3. At the latest before June 30 of the middle year of the planning period, the Unit assigned to lead the construction of the Program shall send a letter requesting adjustments to the Program to the Unit responsible for advising and consolidating planning work at the Ministry for review and comments.

The request for adjustment to the Program must clearly state: the name of the adjustment document, the proposed adjustment content, and the reasons for the adjustment. For cases where additional items are added to the Program, the procedures for reviewing and commenting on proposals for establishing norms shall be implemented according to the provisions of Article 6 of this Circular.

4. The Unit responsible for advising and consolidating planning work at the Ministry shall have the responsibility to study, consolidate, and provide opinions on the adjustment to the Program and report to the Deputy Minister in charge before submitting to the Minister for consideration and issuance of the Decision to adjust the Program.

5. In special cases, adjustments and supplements to the plan for establishing norms outside the specified time points, organizations and individuals shall submit proposals to the competent state management agency at the time of annual planning for consolidation and reporting to the Ministry. The Unit responsible for advising and consolidating planning work at the Ministry shall have the responsibility to study, consolidate, and submit to the Minister for consideration and decision.

Article 10. Monitoring, Urging, and Reporting on the Implementation of the Program

||| Article 1. The leading unit responsible for drafting has the responsibility to:

a) Ensuring the progress and quality of norm establishment;

b) Implementing regular or ad hoc reporting on the situation of norm establishment and sending it to the Unit responsible for advising and consolidating planning work at the Ministry for consolidation and reporting to the Minister or the competent authority.

c) Deadline and form of submission of reports: The leading unit to implement shall compile and submit a report on the implementation of the Program for the first six months of the year (up to June 30) before July 15 and for the entire year (up to December 31) before January 15 of the following year to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (through the Unit responsible for advising and consolidating planning work at the Ministry) for monitoring and management.

2. The Unit responsible for advising and consolidating planning work at the Ministry shall have the responsibility:

a) To urge and consolidate reports on the progress of implementing the Program;

b) Before August 30 each year, report to the Minister on the progress of implementing the Program.

Section 2

ESTABLISHING, REVIEWING AND PROMULGATING ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL NORMS

Article 11. Procedures for establishing norms

1. The steps for establishing norms include:

a) Preparing a list of tasks and works of the mission to ensure requirements clearly indicating units of quantity measurement, meeting technical and technological requirements, and main conditions and measures for implementation.

b) Determining the components of work showing the steps of work or project items that meet the specified technical requirements from preparation to completion.

c) Calculating the consumption of labor, machinery, equipment, and materials.

d) Establishing detailed norms based on the total consumption of labor, machinery, equipment, and materials.

2. The process of drafting, soliciting opinions on norm drafts, and issuing them together with Circulars of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law on promulgating regulatory legal documents.

Article 12. Reviewing and Issuing Norms

1. Documents submitted for reviewing the content of norms include:

a) Documents prescribed in Clause 1, Article 30 of Circular No. 32/2016/TT-BTNMT dated November 7, 2016, of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on the establishment and issuance of regulatory legal documents within the scope of management under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 32/2016/TT-BTNMT dated November 7, 2016);

b) A table of trial unit prices for each type of product calculated based on draft norms and according to guidelines for preparing budgets for expenses under the management fields of the Ministry, compared with actual costs or unit prices of products already established.

2. The review and issuance of norms shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of Circular No. 32/2016/TT-BTNMT dated November 7, 2016.

Chapter III

CONTENT AND TECHNICAL PRESENTATION OF NORMS

Article 13. Content of Norms

The content of norms includes the following components:

1. Labor standards.

2. Equipment usage norms.

3. Tool and instrument usage norms.

4. Material usage norms.

Article 14. Labor Norms

1. Labor norms are the necessary direct labor time required to produce a product (or to perform a step of work or a specific task) and the direct labor time serving the inspection and acceptance process of the product according to the inspection and acceptance regulations. The content of labor norms includes: Technical labor; service labor (general labor).

a) Technical labor: is labor trained in specialized vocational skills according to the natural resources and environment profession and related trades, including: Engineers, Technicians, Technical Workers;

b) Service labor (general labor): is simple labor hired for transporting equipment, materials, guiding, and similar types of labor.

2. Components of labor standards include:

a) Work content: listing basic operations and main operations to perform a step of work.

b) Difficulty classification: stating basic factors affecting the performance of a step of work (regional, geographical, terrain, topography, traffic). The degrees of impact on performance (time loss) differ by 10% to 20% (in exceptional cases not exceeding 30%) between adjacent types, categories, or groups.

c) Staffing: determining the number and level of specific technical workers suitable for the requirements of each work content.

d) Norms: the necessary direct labor time to complete a product; the unit of measurement is individual workdays or group/unit workdays per product. Extraordinary labor rates, if the work involves general labor (service labor), are expressed as fractions, where the numerator is the technical labor rate (calculated in group workdays, individual workdays); the denominator is the general labor rate (calculated in single workdays).

3. Labor work includes:

a) Single workday (individual workday): is the rate (8 hours for normal labor and 6 hours for heavy labor) of labor determined for an individual with a specific technical level, directly performing a step of work to create a product.

b) Group workday: is the rate of labor determined for a group of people with a specific technical level, directly performing a step of work to create a product.

c) Month workday: is the rate of labor determined for an individual with a specific technical level, directly performing a step or part of a work to create a product.

4. Labor time is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law on working hours and rest periods.

Article 15. Standards for the use of machinery and equipment

The content of machinery and equipment usage norms to be established includes:

1. Determine the list of machinery, equipment, and software necessary for production according to each work content that creates a unit of product. For machinery and equipment using electricity or fuel, the consumption capacity of each type of machinery and equipment must be determined.

2. Determine the number of shifts of direct workers using machinery, equipment, and software necessary to produce a unit of product.

3. Determine the standards for electricity consumption and fuel consumption during the use of machinery and equipment to produce a unit of product consistent with the consumption capacity of the machinery and equipment.

4. The period of use of machinery and equipment shall be in accordance with the current regulations of the State.

5. The unit of product for the standard must correspond to the unit of product in the labor standard and material standard. In cases where the machinery and equipment standard is calculated collectively for the final product (for multiple work steps), then determine the allocation factor for each corresponding work step in the labor standard.

Article 16. Standards for the use of tools

The contents of the tool standard must include:

1. Determine the list of tools necessary for production according to each work content that creates a unit of product. For tools and equipment using electricity or fuel, the consumption capacity must be determined.

2. Determine the period of use of tools divided into the following basic groups:

a) Protective equipment: the period of use of each type according to current regulations;

b) Glassware tools (bottles, sample containers, chemical containers, light bulbs, and similar tools): the period of use is 01 year (12 months);

c) Plastic tools (various rulers, boxes, tubes, and similar tools): the period of use is 03 years (36 months);

d) Wooden tools (tables, chairs, cabinets, and similar tools): the period of use is 05 years (60 months);

e) Earthmoving, marking, and cutting tools (shovels, spades, saws, knives, scissors, iron rulers, and similar tools): the period of use is 02 years (24 months); in cases where higher-grade tools (chain saws, earthmoving machines) are used, the period of use is 05 years (60 months);

f) Electronic tools (printers, calculators, cameras, dehumidifiers, vacuum cleaners, fans, and similar tools): the period of use is 05 years (60 months).

3. Determine the number of shifts of tools directly used by workers to produce a unit of product under normal conditions, including energy and fuel consumption during the use of equipment and tools consistent with the consumption capacity of the tools.

4. Determine the standards for electricity consumption and fuel consumption during the use of tools to produce a unit of product.

5. The level for tools with low value not specified in the tool standard tables may be added up to 5% of the tool level in the corresponding table.

6. The unit of product for the standard must correspond to the unit of product in the labor standard and material standard. In cases where the tool standard is calculated collectively for the final product (for multiple work steps), then determine the allocation factor for each corresponding work step in the labor standard.

Article 17. Material consumption standards

The content of material consumption standards must include:

1. Identifying the list of materials necessary for production according to each work content that creates a unit product.

2. Determining the quantity of materials necessary to produce a unit product.

a) The unit of product for the standard level must correspond to the unit of product in the labor standard level. In cases where the material standard level is calculated for the final product (for multiple work steps), the allocation factor for each corresponding work step in the labor standard level must be determined.

b) Material levels with low value not specified in the material standard tables shall be calculated at 8% of the material level in the corresponding table (including the material loss ratio due to transportation and construction, if applicable).

Article 18. Method of establishing standards

Organizations and individuals may decide to apply simultaneously or one of the following appropriate methods based on specific economic and technical characteristics:

1. Statistical and comprehensive method: this method establishes standards based on collected data (surveys, photography, time recording, and other similar methods) regarding labor time consumption, material consumption, and the actual usage time of various tools and equipment to complete the required work and products.

2. Comparative method: this method establishes standards based on existing standards for equivalent works and products implemented in practice.

3. Experience method: this method establishes standards based on accumulated experience of standard-setting staff or skilled workers.

4. Analytical method: this method establishes standards based on the analysis of the complexity of work stages, the time taken to perform them, the qualifications of personnel involved in performing these stages, technical and technological levels, and working conditions to calculate labor standards for each specific stage of a business process. (Including: survey analysis, calculation analysis).

5. Standard Method: This method establishes labor norms based on state standards and regulations regarding labor time and rest systems.

Article 19. Structure of Standards

1. Standards can be established according to one of the two structures below:

a) Standards are established according to the full structure of component levels for each work step;

b) Standards are established according to the structure of component levels for the entire technical process.

2. The structure of standards consists of two main parts: General Provisions and Standards

a) The general provisions of the standards must clearly state: scope of regulation; objects of application; basis for establishing and revising standards; abbreviations; general adjustment factors due to weather, natural, socio-economic conditions.

b) Standards under point a, Clause 1 of this Article shall be structured according to Model No. 02 issued together with this Circular.

c) Standards under point b, Clause 1 of this Article shall be structured according to Model No. 03 issued together with this Circular.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 20. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from May 19, 2017.

Article 21. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The unit advising and consolidating planning work of the Ministry is responsible for monitoring, evaluating, organizing, and inspecting the implementation of this Circular.

2. Units under the Ministry and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

3. During the implementation process, if there are difficulties or obstacles, units, organizations, and individuals are requested to promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for study and resolution./.