The National Assembly today discussed in the hall the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army.

One of the contents that attracted debate from many delegates was the regulation on housing development for the people's armed forces under the management of the Ministry of National Defense.

In Clause 12, Article 1, the draft law stipulates: The Ministry of National Defense is responsible to the Government for performing state management of officers, presiding over and coordinating with ministries, branches, and provincial People's Committees to develop plans for housing development for the people's armed forces under the management of the Ministry of National Defense, submitting them to the Prime Minister for approval and organizing implementation.

From lieutenant to colonel still can not buy a house

Delegate Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap delegation) requested the drafting agency to re-study the above regulation because it is not consistent with the Housing Law.

Article 102 of the Housing Law on housing development for the people's armed forces stipulates: The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security are responsible for determining housing needs for subjects in the sector and sending them to the provincial People's Committee for synthesis in the provincial development plan.

In addition, Mr. Hoa also suggested that the draft law should be consistent with the Land Law on "land for social housing development"; "land for housing development for armed forces" should not be regulated differently.

“Regarding the separation of social housing for armed forces, I find it unnecessary, inappropriate, and not in accordance with the provisions of legal documents,” Mr. Hoa noted.

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Delegate Nguyen Minh Hoang (HCMC). Photo: QH

Delegate Nguyen Minh Hoang (HCMC) said that he has carefully studied the Housing Law and this bill. If it is adjusted and supplemented in the direction of agreeing with the Ministry of National Defense on land funds and handing over land funds to the Ministry or agreeing to build housing for the army on national defense land, it will be appropriate.

He pointed out that currently no province or city has built housing for military officers, only interspersed with local social housing but also very limited.

“The basic salary of officers is higher than the income level for those eligible to buy social housing, but the life of officers is still very hard and miserable. From lieutenant to colonel, it is not certain that they can buy a house. Without special preferential housing policies, it is impossible to attract people with conditions to develop into the army,” Mr. Hoang analyzed.

Must be calculated in the whole life, not just one person.

Debate with the above opinion, delegate Dong Ngoc Ba (Binh Dinh delegation) said that when making the Housing Law, careful calculations were made and there was a housing policy for the people's armed forces along with other subjects; at the same time, regulations were also made on land allocation, investment capital sources and implementation.

“The people's armed forces, including officers, if having difficulty with housing can choose to buy regular social housing or buy houses for the people's armed forces, which means it is very convenient and that regulation is still very new,” said a delegate from Binh Dinh province.

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Delegate Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap). Photo: QH

Delegate Pham Van Hoa added that military officers are also eligible for social housing. If social housing beneficiaries have houses but military officers do not, it would be unreasonable. "We have to consider the whole situation, not just one person," Mr. Hoa emphasized.

According to Mr. Hoa, the argument that "this policy is to create conditions to attract people to the army" is unreasonable. Because in reality, to enter military officer schools and police officer schools, the standard score is very high, no less than the medical profession. That shows that the police and army regime and policies have many incentives.

According to Mr. Hoa, regulations on military housing can be separate, while social housing must be regulated together. "If the local land fund is allocated specifically for military officers, I think the locality is not capable," Mr. Hoa noted.

Concluding the discussion session, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong requested the drafting agency and the agency in charge of reviewing the regulations on housing for the armed forces in accordance with the provisions of the Housing Law, in accordance with the needs of the army, the land allocation capacity of each locality, and assign the Government to provide detailed regulations.

“Not every locality has enough land to accommodate both the provincial armed forces and the Ministry's armed forces in one area,” he noted.

Increase retirement age of generals to 62, colonels cannot be promoted to generals

Increase retirement age of generals to 62, colonels cannot be promoted to generals

Minister of Defense Phan Van Giang said that if the retirement age for general officers is increased to 62 years old, and a colonel retires at 58 years old, then the colonel cannot be promoted to general, while in the military there are many different levels and positions.
If the retirement age of military officers is increased like that of police officers, there will be a surplus of soldiers.

If the retirement age of military officers is increased like that of police officers, there will be a surplus of soldiers.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, if the retirement age of military officers is increased as in the Labor Code or equal to the retirement age of police officers, it will cause congestion and surplus in the officer corps.