Top 8 Key Policies Coming into Effect in April 2023

Buzz

Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 15/4/2026

Content

1. Electronic Bank Guarantee Authorization

2. The Abolition of High-Quality Near-Specialized Classes

3. New Guidelines on Adjusting Construction Contract Prices

4. Regulations on Personal Protective Equipment in the Workplace

5. Amendments to the Rules of Origin in the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement

6. Addition of Occupational Diseases Eligible for Social Insurance Benefits

7. Guidelines on Appointment and Salary Classification for Cultural Propaganda Public Servants

8. Biannual Evaluation of Public Service Entry Standards

1. Electronic Bank Guarantee Authorization

Circular 11 introduces regulations for electronic bank guarantees, allowing financial institutions and clients to opt for conducting guarantees electronically. This policy is effective from April 1, 2023. The implementation of electronic guarantees must ensure security, safeguard data messages, and protect information in compliance with legal standards. Note that the recognition and verification of customer information through electronic means will be subject to a limit on the value of each guarantee commitment, as follows:

For individual clients: the value of each guarantee cannot exceed 4 billion VND.
For organizational clients: the value of each guarantee cannot exceed 45 billion VND.

This limit does not apply in cases where customer information is verified by authorized government agencies; clients request guarantees via the SWIFT system; clients use digital signatures when requesting guarantees; or clients are financial institutions or foreign bank branches, etc.

Authorization for Electronic Bank Guarantees

2. The Abolition of High-Quality Near-Specialized Classes

Circular 05/2023/TT-BGDĐT highlights that non-specialized classes will no longer be allowed in specialized schools, with this regulation taking effect from April 15, 2023. Specialized schools will continue to offer core subjects from the national curriculum, including Literature, History, Geography, Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Informatics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Each class will be limited to a maximum of 35 students. Enrollment for non-specialized classes in specialized high schools will be allowed until the end of the 2023-2024 academic year. Existing non-specialized classes will continue until students graduate from 12th grade.

The End of High-Quality Near-Specialized Classes

3. New Guidelines on Adjusting Construction Contract Prices

The Ministry of Construction has issued Circular 02/2023/TT-BXD, providing guidelines for construction contracts, effective from April 20, 2023.

Under this circular, the adjustment of unit prices and contract values in construction contracts is outlined as follows:

Adjustments to unit prices are governed by Article 38 of Decree No. 37/2015/ND-CP, amended by Clause 14, Article 1 of Decree No. 50/2021/ND-CP:
- Price adjustments apply only to contracts with adjustable unit prices or time-based contracts where agreed upon by the parties.
- If the actual volume of work increases or decreases by more than 20% and affects over 0.25% of the total contract value or over 1% of the unit price for that work, the new unit price must be determined based on agreed principles.
- If the volume of work increases by more than 20%, the new unit price only applies to the extra volume of work completed beyond the agreed contract amount.
- If the actual work volume increases or decreases by 20% or less, the original unit price in the contract remains applicable.
In cases where the price adjustment requires changes to the contract, a contract appendix must be signed.

New Guidelines on Adjusting Construction Contract Prices

4. Regulations on Personal Protective Equipment in the Workplace

According to Circular 25/2022/TT-BLDTBXH, personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to tools and devices that employees must be provided with to protect themselves from potential hazards while performing their tasks. These protections are necessary when technology, equipment, or safety measures cannot fully eliminate all risks.

PPE includes items such as head protection, eye and face shields, hearing protection, respiratory protection, gloves, foot protection, and body armor...

This circular became effective on April 1, 2023.

Regulations on Providing Personal Protective Equipment in the Workplace

5. Amendments to the Rules of Origin in the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement

Circular 03/2023/TT-BCT revises and supplements certain provisions of Circular 22/2016/TT-BCT concerning the implementation of the rules of origin for goods under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement as follows:

Annex II – Specific Product Rules in Clause 2, Article 2 of Circular 22 is replaced with Annex I attached to this Circular.
Annex III – Basic Transformation Criteria for Textile Products in Clause 3, Article 2 of Circular 22 is replaced with Annex II attached to this Circular.
Annex IV – List of Information Technology Agreement (ITA) Products in Clause 4, Article 2 of Circular 22 is replaced with Annex III attached to this Circular.

This Circular came into effect on April 1, 2023.

Amendments to the Rules of Origin in the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement

The addition of new occupational diseases eligible for social insurance benefits is addressed in Circular 02/2023/TT-BYT, which takes effect on April 1, 2023. Among the new additions, "occupational COVID-19" is now included in the list of diseases covered under social insurance.

According to Appendix 35 of Circular 02, occupational COVID-19 refers to a disease contracted during work, caused by exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the workplace environment.

There are two conditions for determining occupational COVID-19:

Exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the workplace
Exposure factors documented in one of the following official records:

Protocol identifying occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2
Document assigning participation in epidemic control, service, or aid to SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals
Assessment of occupational exposure factors as specified in Decree 44/2016/NĐ-CP
Confirmation protocol of exposure to harmful factors causing occupational disease, as issued under Circular 28/2016/TT-BYT

Addition of Occupational Diseases Eligible for Social Insurance Benefits

7. Guidelines on Appointment and Salary Classification for Cultural Propaganda Public Servants

Hướng dẫn về việc bổ nhiệm, xếp lương viên chức tuyên truyền văn hóa có hiệu lực từ ngày 10/4/2023 đã quy định cụ thể mã số, tiêu chuẩn chức danh nghề nghiệp và các cách xếp lương viên chức chuyên ngành tuyên truyền văn hóa.

Theo Thông tư 02/2023/TT-BVHTTDL quy định 3 chức danh nghề nghiệp viên chức chuyên ngành tuyên truyền văn hóa báo gồm:

	Hệ số lương
Tuyên truyền viên văn hóa chính (Mã số: V.10.10.34)	4,00 đến 6,38
Tuyên truyền viên văn hóa (Mã số: V.10.10.35)	2,34 đến 4,98
Tuyên truyền viên văn hóa trung cấp (Mã số: V.10.10.36)	1,86 đến 4,06

Illustration

8. Biannual Evaluation of Public Service Entry Standards

As outlined in Decree 06/2023/ND-CP, which comes into effect on April 10, 2023, public service entry standards will be evaluated twice a year. The evaluations will be held in July and November, as stipulated in Article 4 of this decree.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is the authority responsible for organizing and evaluating the quality of public service entry exams. Annually, before January 31, the Ministry will publish the schedule for the evaluations on its official portal and the specific page dedicated to the entry assessment process.

The evaluation will be conducted through computer-based multiple-choice tests, focusing on areas such as critical thinking, practical application of knowledge, understanding of the political system, government structure, and the rights and duties of civil servants.

Candidates will be considered to have passed the evaluation if they answer at least 50% of the questions correctly.

Biannual Evaluation of Public Service Entry Standards

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key details of the Electronic Bank Guarantee Authorization?

The Electronic Bank Guarantee Authorization Circular 11 allows financial institutions and clients to opt for conducting guarantees electronically, effective from April 1, 2023. It outlines specific conditions and limits for individual and organizational clients, ensuring the security of the process.

How does Circular 05/2023/TT-BGDĐT affect specialized schools in Vietnam?

Circular 05/2023/TT-BGDĐT bans non-specialized classes in specialized schools from April 15, 2023, limiting enrollment for non-specialized classes to the 2023-2024 academic year, while specialized schools continue offering core subjects from the national curriculum.

What are the new guidelines on adjusting construction contract prices?

The Ministry of Construction's Circular 02/2023/TT-BXD outlines rules for adjusting unit prices and contract values based on volume changes. The new unit price applies only if the volume exceeds 20%, and adjustments must be documented through a contract appendix.

What is the significance of Circular 25/2022/TT-BLDTBXH regarding PPE in the workplace?

Circular 25/2022/TT-BLDTBXH outlines mandatory provisions for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure employee safety in the workplace. It includes various protective tools like headgear, gloves, and body armor, effective from April 1, 2023.

How do the amendments to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement impact trade regulations?

Circular 03/2023/TT-BCT revises certain provisions related to rules of origin for goods in the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement. Key changes include the replacement of annexes concerning product rules, textile criteria, and ITA products, effective from April 1, 2023.

What conditions must be met for occupational COVID-19 to be covered under social insurance?

To qualify for social insurance benefits, occupational COVID-19 must result from exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the workplace, as documented in official protocols, and subject to evaluation criteria specified in Circular 02/2023/TT-BYT.

What are the new regulations on the appointment and salary classification for cultural propaganda public servants?

Circular 02/2023/TT-BVHTTDL introduces new salary classification for cultural propaganda public servants, detailing positions such as senior and mid-level cultural propagandists, with salary coefficients ranging from 1.86 to 6.38 based on their qualifications and roles.

Mytour's content is for customer care and travel encouragement only, and we are not responsible.

For errors or inappropriate content, please contact us at: [email protected]