VietNamNet Bridge – National Assembly Standing Committee members have reached agreement on how to provide for persons who have made significant contributions to the revolution.

Priority policies for those who have contributed to the revolution were an important and consistent guideline of the Party and Government of Viet Nam, including support in healthcare, housing, education, job training and tax relief, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung reminded fellow lawmakers on Saturday.

According to a Government report, over 8.8 million people had been confirmed as contributors to the revolution. Over 1.4 million were receiving monthly allowances from the Government. Under a draft resolution, the Standing Committee would require the Government to increase allowance payments to these veterans in accordance with minimum wage increases for public employees.

Yet National Assembly Committee for Social Affairs chairwoman Truong Thi Mai said the monthly allowance for a contributor to the revolution had reached VND650,000 (US$31) in 2008 and VND876,000 ($42) last year while the minimum wage remained VND540,000 ($26) in 2008 and VND830,000 ($40) last year.

National Assembly vice chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan also said that assistance related to housing during 2012-13 needed to be paid and the lawmakers were expecting a Government report on the results of the programme by the end of next year. Based on preliminary statistics from 63 cities and provinces, however, nearly 71,250 households remained in need of having their houses repaired or rebuilt.

Ngan said that VND750 billion ($36 million) from State budget has been allocated to implement this housing policy. Besides the housing programme, the draft resolution requires a search for and identification of the remains of martyrs to be completed this year, and for the Government to resolve legal disputes over who qualifies for the benefits of the aid programmes as a contributor to the revolution.

Next session

Looking to the agenda of the third session of the 13th National Assembly to open on May 21, National Assembly Office head Nguyen Hanh Phuc said the agenda for the coming session focused on review and passage of 13 draft laws on Pricing, Deposit Insurance, Money Laundering, Judicial Assessment, Administrative Violations, Higher Education, Advertising, Labour, Legal Dissemination and Education, Trade Unions, Water Resources, Maritime Issues and Tobacco Control.

The National Assembly would also review and debate the Government's report on socio-economic development and the State budget in the year of 2011 and the first quarter of this year, as well as a comprehensive plans for economic restructuring and to streamline the operations of the National Assembly.

National Assembly Standing Committee members suggested that the Government should report to the full legislative assembly on five issues: implementation and impact of significant laws passed in 2009-10; measures to assist enterprises maintain and promote production and trade; management of monetary policies and interest rates; construction, operation and management of hydroelectric dams; and land usage and management.

The Standing Committee concluded its 8th working session on Saturday.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News