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From August 1, the fine of many traffic violations will increase.

Here are some notable policies taking effect from August 1, 2016:

Increase in penalties for traffic violations from August 1

According to Decree 46/2016/ ND-CP of the Government stipulating the sanction of administrative violations in the field of road transport and railways from August 1, the penalties will increase in a number of violations of traffic which cause accidents such as violating traffic signals, excessive alcohol content, breaking the speed limit and other violations on highways, etc.

Decree 46 also includes additional provisions, if the driver use his/her foot to control the steering wheel when driving a car on the road, the fine level will be 7-8 million vnd.

In addition, the penalties for violating yellow light and red light equally increase. Specifically, the behaviour of not observing the commands of the traffic signal lights (yellow and red light), the fine level for the driver of cars and similar vehicles will be 1.2 – 2 million vnd; the driver of motorcycles (including electric vehicles) and similar vehicles will be fined at 300,000 - 400,000 vnd; the driver of the bicycle and other cycling machines will be fined at 60,000 - 80,000 vnd.

Sharply increase hospital costs and 1,900 health services costs.

From August 1, hospital costs continue to increase according to the schedule, which includes the cost of doctors’ salaries. Previously, according to initial expectations of the Vietnam Social Insurance and the Ministry of Health, hospital costs will simultaneously increase from July 1. But after discussion, the time for increasing costs and fees will start from August 1.

Increased fees will apply in 10 provinces and cities which have a large number of people joining health insurance with the rate of 90-95%. With the new collection, the price of 1,900 health services will also increase significantly, especially the health spending for human resources.

Increase pensions by 8%

According to Decree 55/2016/ ND-CP of the Government on adjustment of pensions, labor incapacity allowances, monthly allowances from August 1, a number of people receiving pensions and monthly allowance from January 1, 2015 to May 1, 2016 will be adjusted by 8% increase of pensions and monthly allowances. In particular:

- Officials, civil servants, employees, officers; military and public security forces and cipher workers who are entitled to a monthly pension.

- Communal officers who are receiving pension and monthly allowances.

The timing adjustment starts from the month of pension or allowance. Those people who have been revised up by 8% according to Decree 09/2015 / ND-CP will remain unchanged.

Support workers to work abroad under the contract

Joint Circular No. 09/2016/ TTLT-BLDTBXH-BTC of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Finance regulating workers who go to work abroad under the contract stipulated in Decree 61/2015/ ND-CP will be supported with the cost of travel, meals, cost of procedures to go to work abroad and the resolution in the case of employees facing the risk when working overseas.

In addition, employees also shall be supported with the cost of foreign language training with a maximum of 3 million vnd / person / course; up to 750,000 vnd/ person for costs of health care services at licensed health care facilities under the regulations.

Apply a new penalty for immigrants who carry gold - more than 5 million

Decree No. 45/2016 / ND-CP of the Government regulating a fine of 1-3 million vnd for the immigrants who do not declare or foreign currencies and Vietnam dong in cash and gold equivalent to 5-30 million vnd.

According to previous regulations, only when carrying money, gold exceeding the prescribed limit of 10 - 30 million vnd, people are subject to this penalty.

Fine 4 million vnd if enterprises ask for printed invoices before qualifying

According to the new regulations in Decree 49/2016 / ND-CP, the penalty for requesting printed invoices without a written contract will be 500,000 – 1,500,000 vnd (previous penalty is 2 - 4 million vnd).

If organizations or enterprises ask for printed invoices but the tax authorities have notified that enterprises are not qualified to ask for the invoices, enterprises will be fined 2-4 million vnd; also forced to cancel the previously illegal invoices.

Individuals who do not notify in writing to the competent state authorities in case of declaring price or missing the registration deadline will be fined at 3-5 million vnd.

Additional work must adhere to strict occupational health and safety guidelines

Circular 13/2016 / TT-BLDTBXH of the Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs has issued a number of additional jobs with strict requirements on safety and hygiene. Specifically:

- Work at heights of at least 2 meters or more above the ground;

- Manufacture, use, operation, maintenance and repair of buildings, equipment, chemicals and solutions in the field of mining, oil and gas exploration, petroleum products at sea and on land;

- Jobs working with ionizing radiation exposure;

- Work exposure to high frequency of electromagnetic radiation from 30 GHz to 300 GHz.