Question and answer session at the National Assembly, passing salary policy
Last week, the question and answer session at the National Assembly took place with 2.5 days of serious, focused, and enthusiastic work, with a spirit of construction, enthusiasm, and high responsibility. For the first time in the term of the 15th National Assembly, the Prime Minister, all Deputy Prime Ministers, and 21 Ministers and Heads of sectors directly answered questions from National Assembly Deputies. This question and answer session had a very wide scope, relating to 21 different fields, arranged into 4 groups of fields: General and macro-economics; Sectoral economics; Culture, society; Justice, and Internal affairs.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh answers questions. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA
The Prime Minister and the Ministers and heads of sectors answered frankly, explained seriously, clarified many issues and proposed solutions to overcome shortcomings and causes of "hot" issues such as: Authority to approve and settle public investment capital, causes of slow equitization of enterprises, policies to support poor communes, lack of medical supplies; abuse of medical testing causing frustration for patients, not "equalizing" the 10% reduction of teachers in localities, the Ministry of Public Security taking the lead in the fight against corruption, salary issues...
In particular, at the question-and-answer session, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue emphasized solutions to promote economic restructuring, innovate the growth model, effectively implement solutions to promote the development of enterprises and business households; focus on promoting the leading role of large cities and growth poles to promote labor productivity, quality and efficiency of the economy. The National Assembly Chairman stated: Relevant ministries, branches and agencies need to focus on removing difficulties and obstacles, speeding up the progress and improving the quality of transport infrastructure projects, especially key projects and works; urgently completing the construction of a national database on land...
National Assembly deputies expressed: The question and answer session at this session has had many innovations, clarifying many issues of concern to voters. The responses of the Ministers and heads of sectors directly, transparently and clearly answered the issues raised by the deputies, frankly accepting responsibility, so that solutions can be found. The National Assembly Chairman's questioning was flexible and scientific, creating conditions for the Ministers and heads of sectors to discuss thoroughly the current urgent issues.
Also last week, with 94.33% of delegates in favor, the National Assembly resolved to comprehensively reform the salary policy from July 1, 2024. The National Assembly passed the 2024 State budget estimate with a State budget revenue of nearly VND 1,701,000 billion; the remaining revenue transferred from local budgets for salary reform by the end of 2023 to be transferred to the 2024 budget of some localities is VND 19,040 billion to implement the basic salary level of VND 1.8 million/month.
The National Assembly resolved that from July 1, 2024, comprehensive reform of wage policy will be implemented according to Resolution 27 of the Central Committee. Funding for wage reform will be guaranteed from the accumulated wage reform fund of the central budget, local budgets and a part allocated in the State budget balance expenditure estimate.
Retail electricity prices increased by 4.5%
Last week, in Hanoi, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) held a press conference to decide on adjusting the average retail electricity price to increase by 4.5% from November 9, 2023. Accordingly, the average retail electricity price increased from more than VND 1,920/kWh to more than VND 2,006/kWh, excluding value added tax. With this electricity price increase, combined with the price increase of more than VND 55.9/kWh (up 3%) on May 4, 2023, the retail electricity price has increased by more than VND 142.35/kWh since the beginning of the year.
Workers of Power Transmission Company 1 check equipment of Xuan Mai 220 kV substation. Photo: Huy Hung/VNA
According to EVN representative, basically, this electricity price adjustment will ensure that poor households and policy families are not affected significantly. Regarding the basis for adjusting the average retail electricity price, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Phuoc, Head of EVN's Finance and Accounting Department, said that the implementation basis is Decision 24/2017 of the Prime Minister. In 2023, input parameters directly affect EVN's costs, including a sharp decrease in the structure of power sources in 2023, hydropower output of nearly 17 billion kWh due to drought and El Nino, so output decreased. Along with that, input fuel prices, foreign exchange rates remain high... directly affecting EVN's electricity purchase costs and prices.
According to EVN's calculations, for service business customers (547,000 customers), after the price change, they will pay an average of 230,000 VND/month more for electricity. For nearly 2 million manufacturing customers, after the price change, they will pay an average of 432,000 VND/month more for electricity. For administrative and career customers, there are 681,000 customers, after the price change, they will pay an average of 90,000 VND/month more for electricity.
Flight delayed because passenger spread rumors of gun
Social news that also attracted public attention last week was that Vietnam Airlines flight VN186 from Da Nang to Hanoi on the evening of November 7 was delayed by two and a half hours because two male passengers spread rumors that they were carrying guns on board.
According to the Central Aviation Authority, flight VN186 scheduled to depart at 7:25 p.m. had to be moved to 10 p.m. All passengers and carry-on luggage were checked by security forces, but no guns, explosives or dangerous items were found. The two male passengers who spread rumors about having guns, who are police officers of Thai Binh province, were recorded and handled by the Central Aviation Authority. According to Decree 162/2018, those who spread rumors or provide false information about having guns, bullets, bombs, mines, explosives, explosives, radioactive substances, biological and chemical weapons on a flight can be fined from 20 to 40 million VND. In addition, depending on the level of danger and damage caused by the act, passengers can be prosecuted for obstructing air traffic.
Immediately after the incident, the leaders of Thai Binh Provincial Police directed a working group to verify and clarify the information about the officer who made the above sensitive statement. After having specific verification results, Thai Binh Provincial Police will have a basis to proceed with the next steps.
Processing information on the project of urban area surrounding Ha Long Bay rock mountain to make "rockery" before November 25, 2023
On November 8, the Government Office issued Official Dispatch No. 6769/VPCP-CN conveying the opinion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on the inspection and handling of the content of the press reflecting the Urban Area Project in Area 10B, Quang Hanh Ward, Cam Pha City, Quang Ninh Province, surrounding the rocky mountains of Ha Long Bay to make a "rockery". Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha assigned the Ministry of Construction to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province to inspect the reflection of the above article, handle it according to authority and regulations, and report the results to the Prime Minister before November 25, 2023.
Through the review of the authorities, the Urban Area project in Zone 10B has fully complied with the procedures and processes as prescribed by law. The project is implemented in the form of land use rights auction. The current status of the project area is a swamp located entirely within the dead-end road approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
The project area located in the buffer zone of the world natural heritage Ha Long Bay has an area of about 3.88 hectares (accounting for 12.19% of the total area). Of which, about 0.91 hectares is for social housing land (with a 6-storey apartment building); about 0.75 hectares of land for construction of a 5-storey townhouse; about 2.22 hectares is for traffic and technical infrastructure.
According to VNA/Tin Tuc Newspaper
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