Decision No. 36/2007/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in July 2007

RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNMENT

Regular Meeting of the Government in July 2007

On July 16, 2007, the Government convened its regular meeting in July to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government heard the Minister of Home Affairs present the Draft Scheme for Reforming Salary Policies, Social Insurance, and Preferential Allowances for War Veterans and Meritorious Persons for the period 2007-2010.

After nearly five years of implementing the Draft Scheme for Reforming Salary Policies, Social Insurance, and Preferential Allowances for War Veterans and Meritorious Persons for the period 2003-2007, many set goals have been achieved such as: raising the minimum wage level earlier than planned; expanding salary relationships, consolidating some salary scales; gradually improving various allowances and subsidies contributing to improving the living conditions of those receiving salaries, retirees, and war veterans; initially implementing the self-management and responsibility system in administrative agencies and public institutions; contributing to ensuring macroeconomic balances and political-social stability.

However, the basic salary remains low, the living conditions of those receiving salaries have not fundamentally improved, they have not attracted talented individuals to work in the state sector; the mechanism for generating resources has not been proactive; the socialization of public activities has progressed slowly. Therefore, continuing to reform salary policies, social insurance, and preferential allowances for war veterans and meritorious persons to implement social policies of the Party and State, align with a market economy system, and meet the requirements of industrialization, modernization, and international integration, promoting administrative reform and anti-corruption is necessary and urgent.

The Government agrees that the continued reform of salary policies, social insurance, and preferential allowances for war veterans and meritorious persons for the period 2007-2010 should have a roadmap and specific implementation measures for each administrative, public institution, and enterprise sector; be consistent with the country's socio-economic development and the state budget's capacity, maintaining macroeconomic balances, and ensuring feasibility. The scope of the Draft Scheme includes: gradually increasing the general minimum wage level, moving towards unifying the minimum wage among different types of enterprises; adjusting and expanding salary relationships and completing salary scales and allowance systems; salary reform must be synchronized with administrative reform and innovation in the public sector; further clarifying and implementing the self-management and responsibility system regarding organizational tasks, financial management, staffing, and salary payment in administrative agencies and public institutions. Continuing to implement comprehensive reforms in social insurance and preferential allowance policies for war veterans and meritorious persons, but with relative independence from salary reform.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is tasked to lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and related agencies to incorporate the opinions of government members, complete the Draft Scheme, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration in August 2007.

2. The Government approved the draft Decree guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Enterprise Law presented by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

During the process of implementing the Enterprise Law, the Government promptly issued several Decrees for guidance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment actively resolved emerging difficulties and obstacles, facilitated business operations, attracted investment, and positively promoted socio-economic development. However, there are still some provisions of the Enterprise Law that have not been specifically guided, causing difficulties in implementation. To ensure uniform understanding and effective implementation of the Law, the Government agrees to approve this draft Decree.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is tasked to lead, coordinate with the Government Office and the Ministry of Justice to incorporate the opinions of government members, finalize the draft Decree, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and issuance in August 2007.

3. The Government approved the draft Decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 188/2004/ND-CP dated November 16, 2004 of the Government on Methods for Determining Land Prices and Price Ranges for Various Types of Land presented by the Minister of Finance.

Due to changes in circumstances, after nearly three years of implementation, Decree No. 188/2004/ND-CP has revealed shortcomings that are unsuitable, the land price ranges specified since 2004 have become detached from actual transaction prices in the market, making land price regulation difficult; the classification of land related to determining price levels has not been specifically guided, leading to numerous obstacles in implementation...

The amended and supplemented Decree has addressed the inadequacies in the regulations of Decree No. 188/2004/ND-CP, clearly defining methods for determining land prices and price ranges for various types of land, streamlining procedures and processes for land valuation in accordance with the Land Law of November 26, 2003.

The Ministry of Finance is tasked to lead, coordinate with the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice, and related agencies to incorporate the opinions of government members, finalize the draft Decree, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and issuance in August 2007.

4. Regarding preparations for the August Government meeting, the Government assigned the following responsibilities:

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment leads, coordinates with the Government Office and relevant ministries and agencies to submit to the Government the draft Resolution on the Comprehensive Action Program of the Government for the 2007-2011 Term.

- The Ministry of Home Affairs leads, coordinates with relevant ministries and agencies to submit to the Government the Decree stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies (replacing Decree No. 86/2002/ND-CP dated November 5, 2002 and Decree No. 30/2003/ND-CP dated April 1, 2003).

- The Ministry of Justice leads, coordinates with relevant ministries and agencies to submit to the Government the draft Program on Legislative Work of the Government in 2008.

- The Government Office submits to the Government the Report on Improving Working Procedures and Directions for Amending and Supplementing the Government's Working Regulations.

5. Regarding the direction to implement tasks in the upcoming period, the Government requests that ministries, sectors, localities, and enterprises continue to effectively carry out comprehensive tasks and solutions for economic, cultural, and social development as set forth in the resolutions of the Party and the National Assembly, and in the documents of the Government and the Prime Minister; promptly identify and resolve any obstacles and difficulties to exceed the targets and plans for the year 2007.

The Government establishes a Working Group to inspect the situation of converting rice-growing land to other purposes, led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, with the participation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Planning and Investment; propose measures to protect rice-growing land to ensure food security, and report to the Government in September 2007. The Ministry of Finance urgently studies and submits to the Government for promulgation regulations on real estate tax. The Office of the Government coordinates with relevant ministries and agencies to review and expedite the drafting and promulgation of legal documents of the Government and the Prime Minister.

Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies must urgently stabilize their organizational structures, draft, and submit to the Government for promulgation a Decree stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of their respective agencies immediately after being approved by the National Assembly./.