JOINT CIRCULAR No. 22/2001/TTLT/BTCCBCP-BTC GUIDING THE ADJUSTMENT OF LIVING ALLOWANCE INDEXES FOR OFFICIALS AND CIVIL SERVANTS WORKING AT VIETNAM'S REPRESENTATIVE AGENCIES ABROAD

JOINT CIRCULAR

JOINT CIRCULAR NO. 22/2001/TTLT-BTCCBCP-BTC OF THE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND CIVIL SERVICE BOARD AND THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE DATED MAY 9, 2001 GUIDING THE ADJUSTMENT OF LIVING ALLOWANCE INDEXES FOR STAFF AND CIVIL SERVANTS WORKING AT OVERSEAS REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES OF VIETNAM

The living allowance system for staff and civil servants working at overseas representative offices of Vietnam is implemented according to Decree No. 105/CP dated June 22, 1965 of the Council of Ministers (now the Government). During implementation, inconsistencies have arisen such as inconsistent living allowance indexes among staff and civil servants within the same representative office and the relationship between living allowance indexes and domestic salary levels is not appropriate. To address these issues, following the Prime Minister's directive in Document No. 34/CP-VX dated January 11, 2001 regarding the adjustment of living allowances for overseas representative offices, after coordinating with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Joint Circular of the Government Organization and Civil Service Board and the Ministry of Finance guides the adjustment of living allowance indexes for staff and civil servants working at overseas representative offices of Vietnam as follows:

For office premises of agencies and units under the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Defense, they shall be implemented according to separate guidelines issued by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Defense after consultation with the Ministry of Finance.

Staff and civil servants under the establishment of overseas representative offices of Vietnam shall receive living allowances abroad funded by the State budget.

II. PRINCIPLES FOR ADJUSTING LIVING ALLOWANCE INDEXES:

1. Ensuring a balanced relationship between the salary coefficient in the country and the living allowance index abroad, and ensuring uniformity in the living allowance system among staff and civil servants from different sectors within the same representative office.

2. Performing what job or holding what position at the representative office entitles one to the living allowance index corresponding to that job or position (based on the diplomatic rank and job title recorded in the decision to assign work abroad).

3. The level of living allowance for staff and civil servants working at representative offices is calculated based on an index. The living allowance index for each job title and position currently working at overseas representative offices of Vietnam is determined based on a minimum living allowance level of 100% (the current minimum living allowance level applicable to each representative office), a maximum living allowance index of 250%, and the domestic salary coefficient.

4. The source of funds for adjusting the living allowance indexes as stipulated in this Circular will be included in the regular operating expenses of overseas representative offices of Vietnam.

III. METHODS FOR ADJUSTING NEW LIVING ALLOWANCE INDEXES:

1. This Circular annexes four tables of new living allowance indexes for staff and civil servants working at overseas representative offices of Vietnam, as follows:

Table 1: Applies to staff and civil servants holding diplomatic positions.

Table 2: Applies to staff and civil servants in administrative, public service, Party, and mass organizations.

Table 3: Applies to military and police specialists not holding diplomatic positions.

Table 4: Applies to technical logistics staff, administrative personnel, and service staff.

2. For probationary staff, they will receive 85% of the first-level living allowance index corresponding to their job title.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION:

1. Based on the provisions of this Circular, ministries and sectors with staff and civil servants working at overseas representative offices of Vietnam should review the job titles of staff and civil servants to adjust them to the new living allowance indexes as prescribed and periodically report to the Joint Ministry of the Government Organization and Civil Service Board and the Ministry of Finance on the use of the living allowance fund of overseas representative offices of Vietnam.

2. This Circular takes effect from May 1, 2001.

The source of funds for adjusting the living allowance indexes of staff and civil servants working at overseas representative offices of Vietnam in 2001 will be arranged in the 2001 state budget estimates of relevant ministries and sectors.

3. Abolish all regulations on living allowance indexes for staff and civil servants working at overseas representative offices of Vietnam issued before May 1, 2001. However, the system for spouses of diplomatic staff will continue to be implemented according to Circular No. 41/TT-LB dated July 1, 1997 of the Joint Ministry of Finance and Foreign Affairs.

4. For Vietnamese enterprises with overseas representative offices, the living allowance indexes in Tables 2 and 4 can be applied to calculate the living allowance levels for employees working at those representative offices.

In the course of implementation, if there are any difficulties, please reflect them to the Joint Ministry for consideration and resolution.

TABLE OF LIVING ALLOWANCE INDEXES FOR STAFF AND CIVIL SERVANTS WORKING AT OVERSEAS REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES OF VIETNAM

TABLE I. STAFF AND CIVIL SERVANTS HOLDING DIPLOMATIC POSITIONS: