Joint Circular No. 27-LB-TT on providing loans to workers and employees in cold regions for purchasing cold protection items

 JOINT CIRCULAR
Regarding loans for workers and employees in cold regions to purchase winter supplies

During the winter of 1956, to take care of cadres, workers, and staff from the South who were not accustomed to the northern climate, the Party and the Government provided additional quilts and warm clothing, ensuring that they had sufficient conditions to maintain their health. This distribution was considered the final round. At that time, some sectors also lent money to some northern workers and employees to purchase winter supplies.

Thus, for two consecutive winters, the Government has taken care of the warmth for these individuals.

This year's winter, unlike last year, mainly relies on individuals, institutions, and sectors to solve the issue of purchasing winter supplies themselves.

Regarding this matter, the Prime Minister has just issued the following directive:

"Only for specific individual cases where workers working in mountainous forests, on rivers and seas, on islands, and in mines truly lack the means to purchase quilts and warm clothing, enterprises can lend them the missing amount to equip for winter protection and will gradually recover it from their salaries."

Below, the Ministry of Labour and Finance stipulates certain details for implementation:

I. SCOPE OF APPLICATION

This Circular applies to workers and staff working in enterprises, factories, and forestry and agricultural farms in the aforementioned areas.

It does not apply to short-term construction sites that disband after a few days.

It does not apply to those working seasonally or annually, or to those who were previously provided with or lent money to purchase supplies but later sold them wastefully (however, in exceptional cases where there is genuine need, loans may still be granted).

II. AMOUNT OF LOAN

Each person may borrow to purchase: one quilt or one warm coat; the maximum loan amount is 30,000 dong. This is the maximum set amount, not everyone will borrow the full 30,000 dong, but rather it depends on the degree of need, borrowing accordingly.

III. METHODS OF LOANING AND RECOVERY

Given the spirit above, lending for winter protection is not a regular system, so the State cannot provide it directly, but enterprises and relevant Ministries and sectors must primarily resolve it themselves. They can borrow from welfare funds, bonus funds, or trade union funds of the enterprise to lend out. If an enterprise lacks the conditions to handle this, the Ministry or sector in charge can coordinate the capabilities of one enterprise to assist another and bear responsibility for recovery within a specified period. It is necessary to avoid using circulating capital of enterprises and construction sites for this purpose, which would affect production.

For basic construction units, public services, and some enterprises such as forestry and agricultural farms without separate funds to address this, the relevant Ministries should prepare plans and report to the Ministry of Finance to implement solutions based on financial capacity. The temporarily allocated funds will be gradually deducted from the monthly budget allocations of these units.

Enterprises, construction units, and service units have the responsibility to gradually recover at least 10% of the monthly salary (including regional allowances) of cadres and workers to repay the borrowed amount.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION METHODS

Ministries will designate specific units under the scope of implementing this policy through direct instructions, avoiding general letters to all units.

The Ministry of Labour and Finance requests that Ministries and sectors pay attention to the spirit of the Prime Minister's directive, only addressing those who are truly in dire need, and avoiding widespread implementation. Cadres and grassroots officials must explain the common difficulties of the State to raise awareness among workers about self-reliance.

The decision to grant loans at each unit must be specific to each individual, assessing what they already have, whether they are adequately warm, and what they still lack, to decide on granting loans.

This is a loan for purchasing winter supplies, so it must ensure that workers have tangible items to use, and it is strictly prohibited to use the loaned money for other purposes.

Above, the Ministry of Labour and Finance outlines key points for Ministries to study and implement according to the spirit of Directive No. 7274 dated December 11, 1957 of the Prime Minister (a copy has been sent to the Ministries). There should be a plan to act quickly and efficiently because the cold weather has already begun.

Additionally, the Ministry reminds that repairing houses for workers and employees to protect against the cold is also very necessary, falling under regular maintenance work that Ministries and sectors have already prepared for.