Joint Circular No. 07/1998/TTLTBLDTBXH-UBBVCSTEVN guiding the implementation of Decision No. 19/1998/QD-TTG dated January 24, 1998 of the Prime Minister on the management and implementation of the goals and tasks of old national programs.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Implementing Decision No. 19/1998/QD-TTg dated January 24, 1998 of the Government on Management and Implementation of Objectives and Tasks of Old National Programs

Pursuant to Decision No. 19/1998/QD-TTg dated January 24, 1998 of the Government on Management and Implementation of Objectives and Tasks of Old National Programs.
The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Vietnam Children's Protection and Care Council provide guidelines for transferring the care objectives for children in difficult circumstances to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs as follows:

I. CONTENTS OF TRANSFER:

1. Care objectives for children in difficult circumstances transferred to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs:

In 1998, 50% of children in difficult circumstances will be cared for, and efforts will be made to reach 70% by the year 2000 according to the objectives of the National Action Program for Children in Vietnam 1991-2000.

2. Funding for the care of children in difficult circumstances will be formed from the following sources:

+ State budget support;

+ Other revenue sources.

When implementing the transfer of state budget funds according to the objectives and tasks of the old national programs, it must be carried out strictly in accordance with the principles and procedures of financial handover, with detailed records prepared in accordance with administrative principles. The Children's Protection and Care Councils at all levels shall be responsible for settling accounts for funding from before 1997. From 1998 onwards, the new managing unit shall be responsible for the contents handed over. For expenditures made in the first quarter of 1998, the provincial Children's Protection and Care Council shall be responsible for settling accounts with the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

These funding sources shall be managed in accordance with the Law on State Budget and the guiding documents issued by the Ministry of Finance.

3. After receiving the transferred responsibilities, the Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs sector must establish new accounting systems for tracking and management, and organize the archiving of handover files in a strict manner to facilitate inspection by competent authorities. Continue to implement the goals and tasks that have been determined during the handover.

4. The change in the managing agency of the program for caring for children in difficult circumstances from the Children's Protection and Care Council to the Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs sector shall not affect the program's objectives. In 1998, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs will continue to implement the targets, plans, and budgets as forecasted and approved by the competent authority by the Children's Protection and Care Council of Vietnam.

Starting from 1999, each year, the Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs sector will coordinate with the Children's Protection and Care Councils at all levels to develop plans for caring for children in difficult circumstances to be submitted for approval by the competent authority and incorporated into the regular budget plan under the management of the Ministry, sector, and localities.

II. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES:

The state budget transfer allocation for the program of caring for children in difficult circumstances in 1998 will be distributed to localities according to Decision No. 184/1997/QD-BT dated December 31, 1997 of the Minister-Chairman of the Vietnam Children's Protection and Care Council and the notification of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment (Appendix attached).

1. Specific activities in 1998 for the care of children in difficult circumstances, in addition to the ongoing activities of the Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs sector, will now be supplemented as follows:

a. Activities at the local level funded through delegated funds include:

+ Work-study classes: implemented in 47 provinces;

+ Community-based rehabilitation follow-up: implemented in 31 provinces;

+ Social worker training: implemented in 60 provinces;

(List attached)

b. Activities of Ministries and sectors funded from the program budget will sign responsibility contracts with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (Social Welfare Department).

c. Activities of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to be implemented include:

+ Social worker training;

+ Regional experience exchange meetings;

+ Data collection and processing;

+ Research;

+ Monitoring and supervision.

2. Activities of the Vietnam Children's Protection and Care Council to be implemented in 1998 and of the Children's Protection and Care Councils at all levels: directing some activities to protect and care for children in difficult circumstances from the state budget (special children program) through delegated funds for the following models and contents:

a. Activities at the local level funded through delegated funds: Directing some pilot models:

+ Shelter;

+ Counseling office;

+ Campaign "Adult Role Models, Well-Behaved Children";

+ Lip and palate repair for children;

+ Other activities.

b. Activities of Ministries and sectors funded from the program budget managed by the Vietnam Children's Protection and Care Council will sign responsibility contracts with the Vietnam Children's Protection and Care Council.

c. Activities of the Vietnam Children's Protection and Care Council to be implemented include:

+ Directing the implementation of the Special Protection Program for Children;

+ Monitoring, supervising, and summarizing models;

+ Researching the role of families and communities in the strategy for protecting, caring for, and educating children.

3. In addition to delegated funds for localities to achieve set targets, if any locality has additional sources (local budget, domestic or foreign sponsorship...), both parties need to clearly define the objectives, plan content, and activity funding...

4. The content and expenditure standards of the program for caring for children in difficult circumstances will continue to be implemented according to Circular No. 69/TTLB dated October 4, 1997 of the Ministry of Finance and the Vietnam Children's Protection and Care Council "Guidelines for Content and Expenditure Standards of the Child Care and Protection Program in 1997" until a new document replaces it.

III. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRANSFER:

1. The transfer work shall be carried out step by step, ensuring continuity and stability in the implementation of the program. Based on this Joint Circular, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Committee for Child Protection and Care of the province/city shall prepare a handover plan to be submitted to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province/city for approval.

2. The Committee for Child Protection and Care of the province/city shall hand over to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of the province/city in May 1998, with the presence of the Office of the People's Committee, the Department of Planning and Investment, and the Department of Finance. The Social Welfare Division or relevant division under the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall assist the Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in receiving the transfer with the participation of the Department's Planning and Finance Division.

After the handover is completed, the Departments of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall report in writing to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs; the Committees for Child Protection and Care of the province/city shall report in writing to the National Committee for Child Protection and Care.

3. The National Committee for Child Protection and Care shall hand over to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, with the presence of representatives from the Government Office, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Finance.

The Social Welfare Department of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall assist the leadership of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in receiving the transfer with the participation of the Department of Planning and Finance.

The Planning and Finance Management Department of the National Committee for Child Protection and Care shall assist the leadership of the National Committee for Child Protection and Care in carrying out the handover work.

4. The handover minutes shall include the following contents: objectives, measures, documents, and funds related to the activities at the facility; the minutes must bear the signatures of the parties involved and shall be promptly submitted to the immediate superiors and relevant departments of the parties.

This Circular takes effect fifteen days from the date of signature.

Any difficulties encountered during the implementation process shall be promptly reported to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the National Committee for Child Protection and Care for coordination and resolution.