Joint Circular No. 27/2003/TTLT-BLDTBXH, BTC, UBTWMTTQVN guides on the organization and operation of social activity volunteer teams at the commune level.

JOINT CIRCULAR

JOINT CIRCULAR NO. 27/2003/TTLT-BLDTBXH-BTC-UBTƯMTTQVN OF THE MINISTRIES OF LABOUR, INVALIDS AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND FINANCE AND THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE VIETNAM FOLKLORE FRONT ON GUIDELINES FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY TEAMS AT THE COMMUNE LEVEL

To implement Decision No. 150, 151/2000/QĐ-TTg dated December 28, 2000 of the Prime Minister on approving the Action Program for Prevention and Control of Drug Abuse from 2001 to 2005 and the Action Program for Prevention and Control of Prostitution from 2001 to 2005, Decision No. 190/2001/QĐ-TTg dated December 13, 2001 of the Prime Minister on approving the National Target Program for Prevention and Control of Certain Social Diseases and HIV/AIDS, after receiving the unified opinions of the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Health, the Joint Circular of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and the Vietnam Folklore Front National Committee, the guidelines for the organization and operations of Community Volunteer Activity Teams at the commune level are hereby issued as follows:

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS:

1. In this Circular, certain terms shall be understood as follows:

1.1. A Community Volunteer Activity Team at the commune level is a social organization comprising individuals residing within the commune, ward, or town who voluntarily participate in work related to the prevention and control of drug abuse and prostitution; the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS transmission; and other social activities.

1.2. A volunteer is a member of a Community Volunteer Activity Team at the commune level.

2. Principles for the organization and operation of Community Volunteer Activity Teams at the commune level:

2.1- Each commune, ward, or town shall establish only one Community Volunteer Activity Team at the commune level.

2.2- Participation in activities shall be voluntary and conducted according to the principle of democratic centralism.

2.3- A Community Volunteer Activity Team at the commune level shall have an operational charter.

2.4- Compliance with laws and regulations and conformity with local regulations shall be observed.

3. The operating expenses of a Community Volunteer Activity Team at the commune level include: Local budget support according to current budget allocation levels; funds for preventing prostitution; funds for preventing drug abuse; funds for preventing HIV/AIDS transmission; economic and social programs related to these issues; and other legitimate sources of funding.

II. ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY TEAMS AT THE COMMUNE LEVEL:

1. Based on the actual situation and practical requirements of the commune, ward, or town, the People's Committee at the commune level (hereinafter referred to as the People's Committee at the commune level), in coordination with the Vietnam Folklore Front and other mass organizations and social organizations at the same level, shall select a political-social organization (the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union or Women's Association; Farmers' Association; Veterans' Association) to prepare a dossier to request the People's Committee at the commune level for permission to establish a Community Volunteer Activity Team at the commune level, while directly managing and being responsible to the People's Committee at the commune level for the results of the operations of the Community Volunteer Activity Team at the commune level (hereinafter referred to as the managing organization).

2. The Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level, after reaching consensus with the Standing Committee of the People's Council at the same level, shall prepare a report to the People's Committee at the district level (hereinafter referred to as the People's Committee at the district level) to issue a Decision recognizing the establishment of a Community Volunteer Activity Team at the commune level.

3. The dossier for requesting permission to establish a Community Volunteer Activity Team at the commune level includes:

- Application for permission to establish a Community Volunteer Activity Team at the commune level;

- Report of the People's Committee at the commune level to the People's Committee at the district level requesting permission to establish a Community Volunteer Activity Team at the commune level;

- List of members of the Community Volunteer Activity Team at the commune level and brief resumes of those proposed as team leader and deputy team leader.

- Draft Operational Charter and activity plan of the Team.

4. Within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the dossier, the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level shall examine and issue a decision recognizing the establishment of the Community Volunteer Activity Team at the commune level and approve the Operational Charter of the Team.

5. Volunteers must meet the following criteria: Age between eighteen and sixty years old; good health; good moral character; strict compliance with the law; ability to perform tasks; residence within the commune, ward, or town; and a voluntary application to join the Team.

III. TASKS OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY TEAMS AT THE COMMUNE LEVEL:

1. Operate in accordance with the Team's Operational Charter.

2. Participate in coordinating with relevant departments, mass organizations, and social organizations within the area to carry out preventive activities against prostitution, drug addiction, and HIV/AIDS transmission through related activities such as poverty alleviation, social assistance, and maintenance of public security.

3. Implement activities to promote awareness and education on the prevention of drug addiction, prostitution, and HIV/AIDS transmission within the commune, ward, or town; provide counseling, assistance, and guidance to prostitutes, drug addicts, and people infected with HIV/AIDS to access healthcare and social services, and facilitate their integration into society.

4. Actively identify and report to relevant organizations and competent authorities about activities related to prostitution, drug addiction, and HIV/AIDS transmission within the area; propose and advise the authorities on specific measures to address these cases and effectively prevent violations.

5. Collaborate with the Vietnam Folklore Front and relevant departments, mass organizations, and social organizations to integrate the campaign "All People United for Cultural Life Improvement in Residential Areas" with social evil prevention work at the commune, ward, or town level through the implementation of five content areas and classification and evaluation of communes, wards, or towns free from prostitution and drug addiction according to Joint Resolution No. 546/2003/NQLT-BLDTBXH-BVHTT-UBTƯMTTQVN dated February 27, 2003 of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Vietnam Folklore Front National Committee.

IV. POLICIES AND REGULATIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS:

1. Volunteers shall be allowed to attend training sessions to enhance their professional skills, provided with materials and information related to the prevention and control of drug addiction, prostitution, and HIV/AIDS transmission.

2. Annually, volunteers within the age range for performing public service labor duties who have participated in the Social Volunteer Team at the commune level for nine months or more shall be certified by the Commune People's Committee as having fulfilled their public service labor obligations.

3. Volunteers injured while performing tasks for the Social Volunteer Team at the commune level shall be supported with medical expenses during emergency care, first aid, and treatment until recovery. In case of death, funeral expenses shall be provided to the burial person or family at the level stipulated for workers participating in social insurance.

4. Volunteers may be considered for awards if they achieve merits. Those who have participated in the Social Volunteer Team at the commune level for five years or more and have many achievements in specific fields may be awarded commendation certificates or letters of commendation from local authorities, ministries, sectors, and mass organizations at various levels according to current regulations.

5. Volunteers who continuously participate in the Social Volunteer Team at the commune level for three years or more and have good achievements shall be prioritized for loan consideration from job creation loan projects and other economic and social programs related to them; if they are farmers, they shall be prioritized for vocational training under the Farmer Vocational Training Project.

6. Monthly allowances for volunteers:

Based on the financial capacity of the locality and legitimate fundraising sources, the Provincial People's Council decides the monthly allowance amount for team leaders, deputy team leaders, and volunteers of the Social Volunteer Team at the commune level.

7. The funds to implement policies and benefits for volunteers mentioned above shall be sourced from the budget specified in Point 3 - Section I of this Circular.

V. IMPLEMENTATION:

1. Responsibilities of Ministries and Sectors:

1.1. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall provide business guidance to the network of Social Volunteer Teams at the commune level nationwide and take the lead in coordinating with the Ministry of Finance and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee to direct units under their management, guide member organizations to thoroughly understand and strictly implement this Circular.

Every six months, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall compile the operational status of the network of Social Volunteer Teams at the commune level nationwide and report it to relevant ministries. Annually, an assessment of the implementation results of the Joint Circular shall be organized and reported to the Government.

1.2. The Ministry of Finance shall direct financial agencies at all levels to ensure funding for the operation of the network of Social Volunteer Teams at the commune level, while guiding, inspecting, and auditing to ensure that the operational funds of the Team are used in accordance with current regulations.

1.3. The Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee shall direct the Vietnam Fatherland Front at the corresponding level to guide the Social Volunteer Teams at the commune level in integrating their activities with the content of the "All-Voluntary Movement for Building Cultural Lives in Residential Areas" campaign.

2. Responsibilities of People's Committees at all levels:

2.1. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities and the People's Committees at the district level shall be responsible for:

a) Directing and urging relevant departments to implement the tasks outlined in this Circular.

b) Based on the actual situation in the locality and in accordance with the State Budget Law, government regulations, and the guidance of the Ministry of Finance, they shall coordinate with the Provincial People's Council to decide on allocating part of the budget and creating favorable conditions for the Social Volunteer Team at the commune level to operate in accordance with the Charter, comply with the law, and be effective.

2.2. The People's Committee at the commune level shall cooperate with the Vietnam Fatherland Front at the same level and other social organizations in the area to implement the following contents:

a) Guide social organizations to manage the Team in establishing a Charter regarding the operation of the Team and its relationship with other agencies, social organizations, and entities in the area.

b) Assist the Social Volunteer Team at the commune level with venues, equipment, means of transportation, funds, and other necessary conditions to ensure the continuous and effective operation of the Team.

c) Propose to competent authorities about policies and benefits for volunteers and organize their implementation when issued; implement statistical and reporting systems to competent authorities regarding cases where volunteers are injured while on duty.

d) Report regularly on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis on the operational status and results of the Team to the People's Council and the People's Committee at the district level.

3. Responsibilities of local functional agencies:

3.1. The Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant departments to direct the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs at the district level to guide the Social Volunteer Team at the commune level in implementing activities; organize vocational training and skill enhancement for volunteer teams; periodically inspect and evaluate the operation of the network of Social Volunteer Teams at the commune level in the locality, report to the People's Committee of the province or centrally-administered city and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, and simultaneously advise and propose solutions to improve organizational structure and enhance the effectiveness of the Social Volunteer Team at the commune level.

3.2. The Department of Finance shall direct local financial agencies to ensure the budget for the operation of the Social Volunteer Team at the commune level according to the prescribed standards and timeframes; guide, inspect, and audit the use of funds allocated for activities and policies and benefits for the Social Volunteer Team at the commune level.

3.3. The Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels in the locality shall serve as the focal point for coordinating between the People's Committee and the People's Council at the same level and member organizations in directing the effective operation of the Social Volunteer Team at the commune level.

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

During the implementation process, any difficulties should be reported to the Joint Office (Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs) for research and resolution.