Circular No. 05/2003/TT-BLDTBXH guides the adjustment of monthly allowances and subsidies for persons who have rendered meritorious service to the revolution.

CIRCULAR

Regarding guidance on implementing adjustments to monthly allowances and subsidies for persons who have rendered meritorious service to the revolution

Implementing Clause 4, Article 1 of Decree No. 03/2003/NĐ-CP dated January 15, 2003 of the Government, after consulting the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs provides guidance on implementing adjustments to monthly allowances and subsidies for persons who have rendered meritorious service to the revolution as stipulated in Decree No. 77/2000/NĐ-CP dated December 15, 2000 of the Government and detailed in Circular No. 31/2000/TT-BLDTBXH dated December 29, 2000 of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs as follows:

I. PRINCIPLES FOR ADJUSTMENTS:

1. The levels of monthly allowances and subsidies for persons who have rendered meritorious service will be adjusted within the range of an additional 38.1% of the total allowance and preferential subsidy fund.

2. Increase the levels of monthly allowances and subsidies according to Circular No. 31/2000/TT-BLDTBXH dated December 29, 2000 of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. The adjustment aims to improve the living standards of persons who have rendered meritorious service and address unreasonable disparities among preferential allowances for such persons.

II. OBJECTS AND LEVELS OF ADJUSTED ALLOWANCES AND SUBSIDIES:

1. Persons who were engaged in revolutionary activities before 1945:

a. Those who were detached and receiving an allowance of 210,000 VND/month. In addition to this allowance, they also receive a monthly subsidy based on the number of years of pre-revolutionary activity, with 50,000 VND/month for each year;

b. Those who were not detached and receiving an allowance of 500,000 VND/month.

c. Main dependents of persons who were engaged in revolutionary activities before 1945 and are receiving pensions upon their death:

- Basic allowance: 170,000 VND/person/month;

- Maintenance allowance: 420,000 VND/person/month.

2. Persons who were engaged in revolutionary activities prior to the uprising:

a. Receiving a monthly subsidy of 135,000 VND.

3. Main dependents of martyrs:

- Maintenance allowance: 420,000 VND/person/month.

- Allowance for two martyrs: 320,000 VND/person/month.

2. Persons who were engaged in revolutionary activities prior to the uprising:

4. Mothers of Vietnam's Heroic Sons and Daughters, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, and Heroes of Labor:

a. Mothers of Vietnam's Heroic Sons and Daughters receiving an allowance of 570,000 VND/month.

b. Heroes of the People's Armed Forces and Heroes of Labor receiving an allowance of 150,000 VND/month.

5. War invalids and persons treated like war invalids (referred to collectively as war invalids):

a. War invalids:

- Monthly disability allowance implemented according to the attached table in this circular.

- War invalids with a loss of working capacity (LWC) of 81% or more, in addition to the monthly disability allowance, receive an additional subsidy of 40,000 VND/month.

- War invalids with a LWC of 81% or more due to severe injuries, in addition to the monthly disability allowance, receive an additional subsidy of 140,000 VND/month.

b. Military personnel injured at work (war invalids type B confirmed before December 31, 1993):

- Monthly disability allowance:

+ LWC from 21% to 30%: 115,000 VND;

+ LWC from 31% to 40%: 160,000 VND;

+ LWC from 41% to 50%: 210,000 VND;

+ LWC from 51% to 60%: 255,000 VND;

+ LWC from 61% to 70%: 300,000 VND;

+ LWC from 71% to 80%: 350,000 VND;

+ LWC from 81% to 90%: 420,000 VND;

+ LWC from 91% to 100%: 465,000 VND;

- War invalids with a LWC of 81% or more, in addition to the monthly disability allowance, receive an additional subsidy of 30,000 VND/month;

- War invalids with a LWC of 81% or more due to severe injuries, in addition to the monthly disability allowance, receive an additional subsidy of 100,000 VND/month.

c. Subsidies for caregivers of war invalids and military personnel injured at work (collectively referred to as war invalids) undergoing rehabilitation at home:

- Caregivers of war invalids with a LWC of 81% or more: 240,000 VND/month

- Caregivers of war invalids with a LWC of 81% or more due to severe injuries: 290,000 VND/month

d. Main dependents of war invalids with a LWC of 61% or more receiving pensions upon their death:

- Basic allowance: 120,000 VND/person/month;

- Maintenance allowance: 210,000 VND/person/month.

6. Veterans and military personnel suffering from occupational diseases:

a. Veterans:

- Monthly veteran allowance

+ LWC from 61% to 70%: 300,000 VND;

+ LWC from 71% to 80%: 350,000 VND;

+ LWC from 81% to 90%: 420,000 VND;

+ LWC from 91% to 100%: 465,000 VND;

- Veterans with a LWC of 81% or more, in addition to the monthly disability allowance, receive an additional subsidy of 40,000 VND/month;

- Veterans with a LWC of 81% or more due to severe illnesses, in addition to the monthly disability allowance, receive an additional subsidy of 140,000 VND/month.

b. Military personnel suffering from occupational diseases (veterans category 3 confirmed before December 31, 1994):

+ LWC from 41% to 50%: 165,000 VND/month;

+ LWC from 51% to 60%: 195,000 VND/month;

c. Subsidies for caregivers of veterans with a LWC of 81% or more undergoing rehabilitation at home:

- Caregivers of veterans with a LWC of 81% or more: 240,000 VND/month;

- Caregivers of veterans with a LWC of 81% or more due to severe illnesses: 290,000 VND/month.

d. Main dependents of veterans with a LWC of 61% or more receiving pensions upon their death;

- Basic allowance: 120,000 VND/person/month;

- Maintenance allowance: 210,000 VND/person/month.

7. Persons who have contributed to the revolution:

a. Persons who have contributed to the revolution before August 1945:

- Basic allowance: 170,000 VND/month;

- Maintenance allowance: 420,000 VND/month.

b. Persons who have contributed to the revolution during the resistance war:

- Basic allowance: 110,000 VND/month;

- Maintenance allowance: 320,000 VND/month.

8. Preferential allowances for education and training:

Students under state policy benefits currently studying at state educational institutions: universities, colleges, vocational schools, technical schools, preparatory classes for university, and ethnic minority boarding schools without receiving salaries or living expenses as stipulated in Article 66 of Decree No. 28/CP dated April 29, 1995 of the Government:

a. A monthly allowance of 220,000 VND is granted to students who are:

- Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, Heroes of Labor entitled to monthly preferential allowances; War invalids, persons treated like war invalids;

- Children of war invalids, children of veterans, and children of persons treated like war invalids with a LWC of 81% or more;

- Children of martyrs receiving monthly allowances.

b. A monthly allowance of 180,000 VND is granted to students who are:

- Children of war invalids, children of veterans, and children of persons treated like war invalids with a LWC from 61% to 80%;

- Children of Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, children of Heroes of Labor entitled to monthly preferential allowances.

9. Regional subsidies (if applicable) and health insurance contribution rates:

Calculated according to the general regulations of the State based on the current minimum wage (the minimum wage effective from January 1, 2003 is 290,000 VND/month).

III. FUNERAL ALLOWANCE:

The person confirmed as a烈士, those who engaged in revolutionary activities before 1945 (Old Revolutionary), Mothers of Vietnam Heroic, Heroes of Armed Forces, Labor Heroes, those who assisted revolutionary activities before 1945, those who engaged in revolutionary activities and were captured and imprisoned by the enemy, disabled veterans and war invalids with a labor disability rate of 61% or more, the main dependents of martyrs and those who assisted revolutionary activities receiving maintenance allowances who died or passed away from January 1, 2003 onwards shall be granted funeral expenses of 2,320,000 VND for the person responsible for burial.

IV. PROCEDURES AND DOCUMENTS FOR ADJUSTING ALLOWANCES AND SUBSIDIES:

1. The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (Department of Organizational Labor and Social Affairs) at the district level shall base on the guidance of the Provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to establish two lists of adjustments to allowance and subsidy levels (Form No. 01).

2. The Provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall receive one list from each District Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, compile three consolidated lists of allowance and subsidy levels (Form No. 02), report to the People's Committee of the province or centrally-administered city, and then send two copies of the consolidated lists to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (through the Martyrs and Veterans Affairs Bureau and the People Contributing to the Revolution).

3. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall consolidate and prepare a budget for additional allowance and subsidy funds, and submit it to the Ministry of Finance.

4. The Ministry of Finance shall allocate the authorized fund for additional allowance and subsidy based on the budget prepared by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, in accordance with regulations.

5. Upon receipt of the notification of funds, the Provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall coordinate with the Provincial Department of Finance and Prices, the State Treasury of the province or centrally-administered city to notify the funds to the district level, issue decisions or adjust allowance and subsidy forms, organize payment, retain files, settle accounts according to current regulations, and report the implementation results to the People's Committee of the province or centrally-administered city.

V. IMPLEMENTATION:

1. The Provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall be responsible for coordinating with mass media agencies to publicize and explain the contents stipulated in this Circular, and at the same time inspect and review to ensure that the system is implemented correctly for the target groups, meeting the conditions and standards.

2. To enable those who have contributed to the revolution to promptly enjoy adjusted allowance and subsidy levels as guided by this Circular, the Ministry of Finance will temporarily allocate the additional allowance and subsidy fund for the first quarter of 2003. By March 25, 2003, all Provincial Departments of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall complete the lists and send two consolidated copies (Form No. 2) to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. From the second quarter of 2003 onwards, the Ministry of Finance will allocate the additional allowance and subsidy fund to localities according to the procedures stipulated in Section IV of this Circular.

3. The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security, after reaching agreement with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, shall guide the implementation for those who have contributed to the revolution within the armed forces under their management.

This Circular shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

The monthly allowance and subsidy levels for those who have contributed to the revolution as prescribed in this Circular shall be back-paid from January 1, 2003 for the increased difference.

During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, relevant agencies and localities shall reflect them to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs for research and resolution.