Joint Circular No. 66/2010/TTLT-BNNPTNT-BLDTBXH-BTC guides the issuance, management, and trial use of agricultural vocational training cards from the national target program's education and training budget funds.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidance on the issuance, management, and trial use of Agricultural Vocational Training Cards

from the funding of the National Target Program for Education and Training

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Pursuant to Decree No. 60/2003/NĐ-CP dated June 10, 2003 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of the State Budget Law;

Pursuant to Decision No. 1956/QD-TTg dated November 27, 2009 of the Prime Minister approving the "Vocational Training Program for Rural Labor until 2020";

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance issue guidance on the issuance, management, and trial use of Agricultural Vocational Training Cards from the funding of the National Target Program for Education and Training as follows:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Application

This Circular provides guidance on the issuance, management, and trial use of Agricultural Vocational Training Cards from the funding of the National Target Program for Education and Training according to Decision No. 1956/QD-TTg dated November 27, 2009 of the Prime Minister approving the "Vocational Training Program for Rural Labor until 2020" in two provinces of Thanh Hoa and Ben Tre.

Article 2. Applicability

1. Vocational training institutions meeting the conditions to provide vocational training for rural labor, offering short-term vocational training courses (up to three months) at the primary level in fields specified in Article 3 of this Circular.

2. Rural laborers within working age who have a desire to learn a trade and meet the admission criteria for each vocational training course, including:

a) Rural laborers directly engaged in agricultural production (crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries, salt industry);

b) Rural laborers providing economic and technical services supporting agricultural production (veterinary, plant protection, seeds and agricultural supplies, processing, storage and marketing of products, management and exploitation of irrigation works, clean water and rural environmental sanitation).

Article 3. Fields of Training

1. Crop cultivation techniques, animal husbandry, forestry, fisheries, salt industry;

2. Processing of agricultural, forest, and aquatic products;

3. Irrigation management, drainage, and rural environmental sanitation;

4. Management and services in agriculture.

Chapter II

SAMPLE AND CONTENT OF THE AGRICULTURAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING CARD

Article 4. Content of the Agricultural Vocational Training Card

1. The Agricultural Vocational Training Card (hereinafter referred to as the Card) issued to rural laborers in pilot provinces for use in participating in agricultural vocational training courses includes the following information:

a) Year of issuance;

b) Serial number and code of the Card;

c) Full name;

d) Gender;

d) Date of birth;

e) Ethnicity;

e) Identity card number;

f) Photo size 3cm x 4cm;

g) Current place of residence;

h) Priority category;

i) Information about the vocational training course: Course name, Training institution name;

j) Stamp and signature of the Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of the pilot province.

2. The sample of the Card is stipulated in Appendix I attached to this Circular.

Article 5. Types of Cards, Colors, and Denominations of the Card

1. The Card includes three types corresponding to the three categories of learners specified in Point 1, Section III, Article 1 of Decision No. 1956/QD-TTg and are designated by three different colors:

a) Red: Issued to rural laborers eligible for preferential policies, persons with meritorious service to the revolution, poor households, ethnic minorities, disabled persons, and those whose farmland has been reclaimed and are supported with up to a maximum of VND 3 million per person per course for short-term vocational training (primary level and under three months) (specific support levels vary depending on the occupation and actual training time);

Food allowance is provided at a rate of VND 15,000 per day of actual training per person; travel expenses are subsidized according to public transportation fares with a maximum of VND 200,000 per person per course for those studying more than 15 kilometers away from their place of residence.

b) Blue: Issued to rural laborers with income not exceeding 150% of the poverty line, supported with up to a maximum of VND 2.5 million per person per course for short-term vocational training (primary level and under three months) (specific support levels vary depending on the occupation and actual training time).

c) Yellow: Issued to other rural laborers supported with up to a maximum of VND 2 million per person per course for short-term vocational training (primary level and under three months) (specific support levels vary depending on the occupation and actual training time).

2. Form and Material of the Card

a) Material of the Card: Coated paper with a weight of 230 grams.

b) Size of the Card: Length 210mm, width 148.5mm (half an A4 sheet: 210mm x 297mm).

c) Color and Text on the Card:

- For red cards: The front cover of the Card (pages 1 and 4) has a red background, with black text on pages 1 and 4. The inside of the Card (pages 2 and 3) uses black text on a red background.

- For blue cards: The front cover of the Card (pages 1 and 4) has a blue background, with black text on pages 1 and 4. The inside of the Card (pages 2 and 3) uses black text on a blue background.

- For yellow cards: The front cover of the Card (pages 1 and 4) has a yellow background, with black text on pages 1 and 4. The inside of the Card (pages 2 and 3) uses black text on a yellow background.

- Font size on the Card: As specified in Appendix I attached to this Circular.

Chapter III

ISSUANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND USE OF THE

AGRICULTURAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING CARD

Article 6. Procedures for Registering and Issuing the Card

1. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development provides information on planning and agricultural development to rural workers through the People's Committee of the district and the People's Committee of the commune.

2. The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs provides information on vocational training professions, vocational training institutions, and related policies for rural workers through the People's Committee of the district and the People's Committee of the commune.

3. Workers choose a profession to study and register for issuance of the vocational training card with the People's Committee of the commune according to Appendix II issued together with this Circular. The People's Committee of the commune compiles and reports to the People's Committee of the district (Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Office).

4. The People's Committee of the district issues a document to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs requesting issuance of the Card.

Article 7. Printing and Issuance of the Card

1. The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of pilot provinces approves the list of individuals eligible to receive the vocational training card.

Based on the budget allocated by the provincial People's Committee for the implementation of card issuance and the approved list of individuals, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of pilot provinces prints and issues the card to rural workers, transferring it to the Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Offices of the districts for distribution by the People's Committee of the commune to rural workers.

2. Costs for printing, issuing, and canceling the card are reimbursed from the pilot program funds for the issuance of agricultural vocational training cards to rural workers, as assigned by the competent authority to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of pilot provinces.

Article 8. Validity Period of the Card

Each eligible rural worker receives one Card. The Card is valid for one year from the date of issuance.

Article 9. Application Documents for Card Issuance

The initial application documents for the Card include:

1. Application form for the agricultural vocational training card;

2. Identity card (photocopy certified by the competent authority);

3. Documentation proving eligibility as a policy beneficiary or priority group (photocopy certified by the competent authority).

Article 10. Use of the Card

1. The Card may only be used by rural workers directly participating in agricultural vocational training courses.

2. Upon enrollment, rural workers must submit the Card to the selected vocational training institution and participate in the registered vocational training courses.

3. Rural workers are responsible for preserving the Card, preventing loss or damage; in case of loss, tearing, or damage, they must write a report confirmed by the People's Committee of the commune and submit it to the People's Committee of the district for consolidation and submission to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs for reissuance.

4. Prohibited actions when using the Card:

a) Lending the Card to others or borrowing another person's Card;

b) Erasing, altering, or forging the Card;

c) Using the Card for purposes other than intended or to commit illegal acts.

If the Card holder violates these provisions, the Card will be revoked and the violator will be subject to legal action.

Article 11. Management of the Card

The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of pilot provinces is responsible for:

1. Managing initial application documents and reissuance of the Card;

2. Issuing, revoking, and canceling the Card;

3. Reimbursing and settling pilot program costs for Card usage.

Chapter IV

PAYMENT AND SETTLEMENT OF COSTS

Article 12. Content and level of expenditure for agricultural vocational training

1. The content and level of expenditure shall be implemented according to Decision No. 1956/QĐ-TTg dated November 27, 2009 of the Prime Minister approving the "Vocational Training Program for Rural Labor until 2020"; Circular Joint No. 112/2010/TTLT-BTC-BLDTBXH dated July 30, 2010 of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs guiding management and use of funds to implement the "Vocational Training Program for Rural Labor until 2020" issued pursuant to Decision No. 1956/QĐ-TTg dated November 27, 2009 of the Prime Minister; the level of expenditure for each group of agricultural occupations shall be prescribed by the People's Committees of provinces.

2. Vocational training institutions shall provide support for meals and travel expenses for rural laborers under the policy stipulated in Decision No. 1956/QĐ-TTg dated November 27, 2009 of the Prime Minister (those with red cards) and then settle accounts with the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs where the card was issued.

Article 13. Payment Documents

1. Payment documents shall be submitted by vocational training institutions to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (where the vocational learning card was issued):

a) Agricultural vocational learning card: Original marked with "COMPLETED";

b) Identity card copy of the learner certified by an authorized agency;

c) Decision to open a class (photocopy) along with a list of learners holding cards;

d) Decision recognizing graduation for learners;

đ) Supporting documents for meal and travel expenses (for those workers who received red cards):

- Meals: meal expense statement signed by the learner;

Meal cost = number of actual training days x 15,000 VND/person/day.

- Travel: one-way ticket stub, but when settling accounts it will be doubled to include the return trip (public transportation ticket with a maximum amount not exceeding 200,000 VND/person/course for those studying away from their residence by more than 15 km).

For communes without public transportation, payment will be made at a maximum quota of not more than 150,000 VND/person/course.

e) Payment request form of the vocational training institution (annexed to this Circular);

2. Payment documents of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (where the vocational learning card was issued) sent to the State Treasury for transaction:

a) Approved budget estimate;

b) Budget withdrawal request;

c) Training cost standard approved by the Provincial People's Committee;

d) Payment statement for vocational learning card expenses prepared by the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs including information on the list of learners, card number, card value, and proposed payment amount.

Article 14. Payment Method

1. Vocational training institutions shall send payment documents for vocational training expenses to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (where the card was issued) via registered mail. Within 15 days from the date of receipt of the documents sent by the vocational training institution, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall be responsible for checking the conditions for payment as prescribed. If the conditions are met, the Department shall prepare a budget withdrawal request and a payment statement for vocational learning card expenses to be sent to the State Treasury for transaction to pay into the account of the vocational training institution as prescribed, including meal and travel expenses for rural workers who have been issued red cards by the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. In cases where the vocational training institution has not provided complete payment request documents, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall require supplementation and completion in accordance with regulations. The State Treasury shall check the legality and validity of the payment documents as stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 13, implement payment to the vocational training institution as prescribed.

2. The amount paid for vocational training to the vocational training institution shall not exceed the value of the card.

a) In case the training cost of the occupation learned exceeds the value of the card, the learner shall bear the difference themselves.

b) In case the training cost is lower than the value of the card, the learner shall not be reimbursed for the excess cost.

3. In case the learner cannot fully participate in the entire course and does not meet the conditions for issuance of a certificate or vocational qualification as prescribed, the vocational training institution shall be paid 50% of the vocational training expenses.

Article 15. Settlement

The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall settle accounts with the Department of Finance in accordance with current regulations.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 16. Responsibility for Implementation

1. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:

a) To take the lead in developing the list, program, and learning materials for primary vocational occupations and less than three months for rural laborers to pilot the agricultural vocational learning card.

b) To take the lead together with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in supervising and monitoring the implementation of the pilot issuance of agricultural vocational learning cards for rural laborers; compiling and reporting to the Prime Minister.

c) To guide the pilot provinces in developing plans to implement the pilot issuance of agricultural vocational learning cards.

2. Responsibilities of the People's Committees of Thanh Hoa and Ben Tre Provinces:

a) To take the lead in establishing training cost standards for each group of agricultural occupations;

b) To develop plans to implement the pilot issuance of agricultural vocational learning cards for rural laborers and direct the organization and implementation;

c) To periodically organize supervision, inspection, and evaluation of the implementation of agricultural vocational training for rural laborers, report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Article 17. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect forty-five days from the date of issuance.

During the implementation process, if there are difficulties, units are requested to reflect them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance for research and appropriate amendments./.