Circular No. 17/2016/TT-BLDTBXH guiding the annual review process for poor households and near-poor households according to the multidimensional poverty standard applicable from 2016 to 2020

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for the annual review process of poor households and near-poor households according to the multidimensional poverty standard applicable from 2016 to 2020

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Pursuant to Decree No. 106/2012/NĐ-CP dated December 20, 2012 of the Government on functions, tasks, and regulations1Pursuant to Resolution No. 76/2014/QH13 dated June 24, 2014 of the National Assembly on strengthening the goal of sustainable poverty reduction by 2020;onPursuant to Decree No. 61/2015/NĐ-CP dated July 9, 2015 of the Government on employment support policies and the National Employment Fund

Pursuant to Decision No. 59/2015/QĐ-TTg dated November 19, 2015 of the Prime Minister promulgating the multidimensional poverty standard applicable from 2016 to 2020;14/QH1The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs issues this Circular guiding the annual review process of poor households and near-poor households according to the multidimensional poverty standard applicable from 2016 to 2020.rime Minister cThis Circular guides the annual review process of poor households and near-poor households at the grassroots level, including communes, wards, towns (hereinafter referred to as commune level), villages, hamlets, ấp, buôn, villages, phum, and sóc (hereinafter referred to as village level), outside the surveys to determine poor households and near-poor households at the beginning, middle, and end periods, serving as the basis for implementing poverty reduction policies and social security policies, evaluating the annual poverty reduction results of localities and nationwide.

a) Households throughout the country; 11 b) Agencies, units, organizations, and individuals directly involved or related to the work of surveying and reviewing poor households and near-poor households annually.

At the proposal of the Director of the Social Assistance Administration,

The Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs issues this Circular stipulating the adjustment rate for monthly salary and income already paid for social insurance;i1. Poor households and near-poor households are households that, through annual surveys and reviews at the grassroots level, meet the criteria for determining poor households and near-poor households as stipulated in Clause 1 and Clause 2 of Article 2 of Decision No. 59/2015/QĐ-TTg dated November 19, 2015 of the Prime Minister and are recognized by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level as belonging to the list of poor households and near-poor households in the locality.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Thông tư này quy định chi tiết khoản 4 Điều 38 Luật Thủy sản số 18/2017/QH14 đã được sửa đổi, bổ sung tại điểm c khoản 21 Điều 14 Luật số 146/2025/QH15.

2. Households escaping poverty are poor households listed under local management but, through annual surveys and reviews at the grassroots level, are determined not to belong to the group of poor households according to the criteria for determining poor households and are recognized by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level as households escaping poverty. Households escaping poverty include:

Thông tư này áp dụng đối với tổ chức, cá nhân có liên quan đến hoạt động kinh doanh đối tượng thủy sản nuôi chủ lực trên lãnh thổ Việt Nam.

a) Households escaping poverty and becoming near-poor households;

b) Households escaping poverty and exceeding the near-poor household standard, which have a monthly per capita income from the average living standard upwards (the criteria for determining the average living standard as stipulated in Clause 3 of Article 2 of Decision No. 59/2015/QĐ-TTg dated November 19, 2015 of

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

3. Households escaping near-poverty are near-poor households listed under local management but, through annual surveys and reviews at the grassroots level, have a monthly per capita income from the average living standard upwards and are recognized by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level as households escaping near-poverty;

4. Newly generated poor households and newly generated near-poor households are households not listed under the local poor and near-poor household management but experiencing sudden difficulties in the year (as detailed in Appendix No. 1a issued together with this Circular), and through annual surveys and reviews at the grassroots level, meet the criteria for determining poor households and near-poor households and are recognized by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level as poor households and near-poor households in the locality;

5. Re-emerged poor households and re-emerged near-poor households are households previously listed under local poor and near-poor household management, recognized as having escaped poverty and near-poverty, but due to sudden difficulties in the year, through annual surveys and reviews at the grassroots level, meet the criteria for determining poor households and near-poor households and are recognized by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level as poor households and near-poor households in the locality;

6. Poor households under social assistance policies are households with at least one member being an object currently enjoying social assistance policies as prescribed by law, and other members in the household not having labor capacity, and through annual surveys and reviews at the grassroots level, meet the criteria for determining poor households and are recognized by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level, classified as poor households under social assistance policies;

7. Poor households under preferential policies for persons with meritorious service are households with at least one member being an object currently enjoying preferential policies for persons with meritorious service as prescribed by law, and through annual surveys and reviews at the grassroots level, meet the criteria for determining poor households and are recognized by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level, classified as poor households under preferential policies for persons with meritorious service;

8. Ethnic minority poor households are poor households where the head of the household or the spouse of the head of the household belongs to one of the groups of ethnic minorities as prescribed by law.

5. A re-poor household, a re-near poor household is a household that was previously listed in the local management's list of poor households, near-poor households, has been recognized as having escaped poverty or near-poverty, but due to sudden difficulties arising in the year, upon annual investigation and review at the grassroots level, meets the criteria for identifying poor and near-poor households, and is decided by the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune to be recognized as a poor or near-poor household in the locality;

6. A social assistance policy poor household is a household with at least one member being an object currently enjoying social assistance policies as prescribed by law, and other members of the household not having labor capacity, upon annual investigation and review at the grassroots level meeting the criteria for identifying poor households, and being recognized and classified as a social assistance policy poor household by the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune;

7. A preferential policy for persons with meritorious service poor household is a household with at least one member being an object currently enjoying preferential policies for persons with meritorious service as prescribed by law, upon annual investigation and review at the grassroots level meeting the criteria for identifying poor households, and being recognized and classified as a preferential policy for persons with meritorious service poor household by the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune;

8. An ethnic minority poor household is a poor household where the head of the household or the spouse of the head of the household belongs to one of the groups of ethnic minorities as prescribed by law.

Article 3. Methods and requirements for review

2. Review requirements: Ensure accuracy, democracy, transparency, fairness, and public participation.

Article 4. Time of review

1. The time for organizing annual reviews of poor and near-poor households shall be conducted from September 1st to December 31st of each year.

2. Regular reviews of poor and near-poor households shall be carried out at the time when households submit application forms to the People's Committee of the commune (with confirmation from the village head) for specific cases as follows:

a) In cases where households face sudden difficulties during the year and need to be added to the list of poor and near-poor households in the locality to access state poverty reduction policies;

b) In cases where households currently listed as poor or near-poor in the locality apply to register for poverty exit review.

Chapter II

ANNUAL REVIEW PROCEDURE FOR POOR AND NEAR-POOR HOUSEHOLDS AT THE COMMUNE LEVEL

Article 5. Procedure for regular review of poor and near-poor households

1. Procedure for reviewing newly emerging poor and near-poor households within the year For households facing sudden difficulties during the year that require review and inclusion in the list of poor and near-poor households to access state poverty reduction policies, the following procedure shall be followed:

The assessment, review, and issuance of the Decision recognizing supplementary recognition shall not exceed seven working days from the date of receipt of the household's application form. If the Decision is not issued, the reasons must be clearly stated;

c) Monthly, the People's Committee of the commune compiles and reports to the People's Committee of the district the number of newly emerging poor and near-poor households in the locality (if any) for the People's Committee of the district to compile and report to the People's Committee of the province;

d) The People's Committee of the province compiles the list of newly emerging poor and near-poor households in the year.

2. Procedure for reviewing households exiting poverty and near-poverty within the year

For households currently managed by the locality and applying for poverty exit registration, the following procedure shall be followed:

The assessment, review, and issuance of the Decision recognizing supplementary recognition shall not exceed seven working days from the date of receipt of the household's application form. If the Decision is not issued, the reasons must be clearly stated;

c) Monthly, the People's Committee of the commune compiles and reports to the People's Committee of the district the number of households exiting poverty and near-poverty in the locality (if any) for the People's Committee of the district to compile and report to the People's Committee of the province;

d) The People's Committee of the province compiles the list of households exiting poverty and near-poverty in the year.

Article 6. Annual Review Process for Poor and Near-Poor Households

The annual review process for poor and near-poor households shall be carried out according to the following procedure:

1. Identifying and compiling lists of households to be reviewed

 Surveyors cooperate with poverty reduction officers at the commune level and village chiefs to organize the identification and compilation of lists of households to be reviewed within their jurisdiction:

Poverty reduction officers at the commune level and village chiefs proactively identify cases where households face difficulties, unexpected risks, or potential poverty or near-poverty but have not submitted applications, and include them in the list of households to be reviewed.

b) For households potentially classified as non-poor or non-near-poor: surveyors compile a complete list of currently managed poor and near-poor households (Annex 2d issued together with this Circular) for review using Form B (Annex 3b issued together with this Circular).

Surveyors conduct reviews of households using Form B (Annex 3b issued together with this Circular). After reviewing, summarizing, and categorizing the results, they classify households as follows:

a) List of poor and near-poor households identified through review, including:

- Urban poor households are those with a total score of B1 from 140 points or less, or those with a total score of B1 above 140 points up to 175 points and a total score of B2 from 30 points or more;

- Rural poor households are those with a total score of B1 from 120 points or less, or those with a total score of B1 above 120 points up to 150 points and a total score of B2 from 30 points or more;

- Urban near-poor households are households with a total score of B1 from 140 points to 175 points and a total score of B2 below 30 points.

- Rural near-poor households are households with a total score of B1 from 120 points to 150 points and a total score of B2 below 30 points.

b) The list of households that have escaped poverty and near-poverty through review includes:

- Urban households that have escaped poverty:

+ Households that have escaped poverty and surpassed the near-poor standard are those with a total score of B1 above 175 points;

+ Households that have escaped poverty but remain near-poor households are households with a total score of B1 from 140 points to 175 points and a total score of B2 below 30 points;

- Rural households that have escaped poverty:

+ Households that have escaped poverty and surpassed the near-poor standard are households with a total score of B1 above 150 points;

+ Households that have escaped poverty but remain near-poor are those with a total score of B1 above 120 points up to 150 points and a total score of B2 below 30 points;

- Urban households that have escaped near-poverty are households with a total score of B1 above 175 points;

- Rural households that have escaped near-poverty are those with a total score of B1 above 150 points.

Participants include representatives of the government, associations, poverty reduction officers at the commune level, village chiefs (chairing the meeting), Secretaries of Village Party Cells, Secretaries of Village Associations, Secretaries of Youth League Committees, and representatives of some households elected by villagers to attend the meeting.

Meeting content: soliciting opinions from residents to unify the review results of poor and near-poor households in the area (mainly focusing on newly identified poor and near-poor households; households that have escaped poverty or near-poverty).

Meeting outcomes are recorded in two Minutes (Annex 2d issued together with this Circular), signed by the chairperson, secretary of the meeting, and representatives of the households (one copy retained in the village, one copy sent to the Commune Poverty Reduction Board).

4. Publicly posting lists of poor, near-poor, non-poor, and non-near-poor households at the People's Committee office of the commune, community houses, and announcing through mass media for seven working days.

In case of complaints from residents, the Commune Poverty Reduction Board must re-examine the review results according to the correct procedures.

5. Reporting and requesting approval from the People's Committee of the district

The People's Committee of the commune compiles and reports the review results of poor and near-poor households in the area after completing the public posting process (and re-examination if there are complaints from residents) to the People's Committee of the district for consolidation and approval before issuing a Decision by the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune recognizing the review results. The request for approval and organization of inspections and re-examinations (if necessary) shall be completed within seven working days from the date of reporting and requesting approval.

6. Recognizing lists of poor, near-poor, non-poor, and non-near-poor households in the area

b) Directs the Commune Poverty Reduction Board to organize the collection of additional characteristics and living conditions (household information and members) of poor and near-poor households in the area (using Form C in Annex 3c issued together with this Circular) and update them into the database for managing poor and near-poor households.

7. The People's Committee of the commune reports to the People's Committee of the district the review results of poor and near-poor households in the area after the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune issues a decision recognizing the list of poor and near-poor households in the area.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 7. Responsibilities of People's Committees at all levels

1. Responsibilities of the Commune People's Committee

a) Direct the Poverty Reduction Board at the commune level to directly organize the review of poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction with specific tasks as follows:

- Propose the People's Committee at the commune level to establish the Review Steering Board for Poor and Near-Poor Households based on members of the Poverty Reduction Board at the commune level;

- Disseminate and promote the purpose, significance, and requirements of the annual review of poor and near-poor households through various media; encourage families to proactively register to participate;

- Develop plans, budgets, and organize forces to participate in the annual review of poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction.

b) Aggregate, classify, and prepare detailed lists of poor, near-poor, poverty-exited, and near-poverty-exited households within their jurisdiction after receiving the official review results. Based on the review results, the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level decides to recognize and direct the organization to issue certificates for poor and near-poor households; report the results to the People's Committee at the district level for consolidation and review.

c) Update information about poor and near-poor households into management software as a basis for implementing social welfare policies and evaluating the annual poverty reduction targets; monitor and update additional information about the characteristics of poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction into the management software when changes occur.

2. Responsibilities of the District People's Committee

a) Establish the Review Steering Board for Poor and Near-Poor Households based on the Poverty Reduction Steering Board at the district level, assign the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs as the permanent agency, and supplement members from the statistical agency at the same level to perform the following tasks:

- Develop and submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level the annual plan for reviewing poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction;

- Organize training sessions for the forces directly involved in the review and supervisors (conducted centrally according to administrative units if the district has few communes, or by commune clusters if the district has many communes);

- Coordinate with relevant agencies to direct the organization of the review of poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction;

- Monitor, guide, and urge the People's Committee at the commune level to direct the implementation of the review of poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction according to the prescribed procedures and deadlines;

b) Inspect and organize re-inspection of the review results of poor and near-poor households at the commune level in cases where the review results are not consistent with the actual situation of the locality or there are complaints;

c) Aggregate and submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level for approval the review results of poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction to report to the People's Committee at the provincial level;

d) Direct the People's Committee at the commune level to organize the updating of information about poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction into management software.

3. Responsibilities of the People's Committee at the provincial level:

a) Establish the Review Steering Board for Poor and Near-Poor Households based on the Poverty Reduction Steering Board at the provincial level, assign the Department of Labor - Invalids, and Social Affairs as the permanent agency, and supplement members from the statistical agency at the same level to perform the following tasks:

- Develop and submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level the plan for organizing the review; unify forms for implementation within the jurisdiction;

- Organize training sessions on the review of poor and near-poor households for the district level;

- Coordinate with relevant agencies to direct the organization of the review of poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction;

- Monitor, guide, and urge the People's Committee at the district level to direct the implementation of the review of poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction according to the prescribed procedures and deadlines;

b) Inspect and organize re-inspection of the review results of poor and near-poor households at the district level in cases where the review results are not consistent with the actual situation of the locality or there are complaints;

c) Aggregate and submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level for approval the annual review results of poor and near-poor households within their jurisdiction; report to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs for consolidation and recognition;

d) Direct the People's Committee at the district level to organize the updating of the review results of poor and near-poor households into management software.

Article 8. Responsibilities of Relevant Units under the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs

The National Office for Poverty Reduction shall coordinate with relevant units to provide advice to the Ministry:

1. To develop training plans and guide localities on annual poverty and near-poverty household surveys and reviews, timely issuing guidance documents for localities to implement when there are new regulations or amendments;

2. To direct and guide localities to ensure the organization and implementation of annual poverty and near-poverty household surveys and reviews, and to report accurately and on time according to prescribed reporting forms;

3. To compile results from annual poverty and near-poverty household surveys conducted by localities, and issue a Decision of the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to announce the national survey and review results, serving the assessment of poverty reduction targets and the implementation of poverty reduction and social welfare policies;

4. To develop, transfer, and guide localities in using online management software for poverty and near-poverty households, serving the construction of a nationwide database on poverty and near-poverty households;

5. To study, supplement, adjust, and improve multidimensional poverty measurement approaches.

Article 9. Reporting System and Reporting Forms

1. Reporting System

a) Quarterly, Provincial Departments of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall aggregate and report to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs the results of newly added poverty and near-poverty households and the results of recognizing households that have escaped poverty and near-poverty (if applicable);

b) Before November 15 each year, Provincial Departments of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall report preliminary results of poverty and near-poverty household reviews to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs;

c) Before December 15 each year, People's Committees of provinces and cities shall officially report the results of annual poverty and near-poverty household reviews to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (with the Chairman's approval decision at provincial level) for compilation and issuance of a Decision of the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs announcing the national annual survey and review results.

2. The results of poverty and near-poverty household reviews by provinces and cities shall be aggregated and reported as follows:

a) A letter reporting the results of the poverty and near-poverty household review by the Provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs or the Chairman's approval decision on the results of the poverty and near-poverty household review at the provincial level;

b) Reporting form system (according to the form issued together with this Circular):

- Appendix 4a. Summary of annual decrease in the number of poverty households.

- Appendix 4b. Summary of annual decrease in the number of near-poverty households. - Appendix 4c. Analysis of poverty households based on the degree of lack of access to basic social services.

- Appendix 4d. Analysis of near-poverty households based on the degree of lack of access to basic social services.

- Appendix 4đ. Analysis of poverty households by target groups.

Article 10. Implementation Budget

The budget for organizing annual poverty and near-poverty household reviews and updating the poverty and near-poverty household database on the local level shall be allocated from the local budget according to current financial regulations.

Article 11. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from August 15, 2016.

2. Circular No. 21/2012/TT-LĐTBXH dated September 5, 2012, guiding the annual poverty and near-poverty household review process, and Circular No. 24/2014/TT-LĐTBXH dated September 6, 2014, amending and supplementing certain articles of Circular No. 21/2012/TT-LĐTBXH dated September 5, 2012, guiding the annual poverty and near-poverty household review process, shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

3. Any difficulties encountered during implementation should be reported to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs for research, amendment, and supplementation as appropriate./.