On May 15, during a meeting on preparations for the 7th session of the 15th National Assembly, Secretary-General Bui Van Cuong outlined the session's agenda, which includes 39 items, including: 24 legislative topics; 15 socio-economic, state budget, and oversight matters.

The session will last 26 days, starting May 20 and concluding June 27. It will be conducted in two phases: Phase 1: May 20–June 8 (17 days) and Phase 2: June 17–27 (9 days).

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National Assembly Secretary-General Bui Van Cuong. Photo: NA

Cuong reported mixed opinions regarding the timing of the revised Social Insurance Law's approval, as it trails the upcoming wage reform set to commence on July 1, 2024. Some suggested delaying its submission until the 8th session.

Despite these reservations, the draft has undergone close collaboration under the Standing Committee's direction and gained significant consensus. The Standing Committee instructed a thorough evaluation of wage reform impacts on pensions, particularly for retirees with low pensions or those who retired before 1995.

If conditions are met, the draft will be submitted for approval during the 7th session. Otherwise, the committee will adjust the timeline based on further discussion.

Cuong highlighted that the new wage policy, starting July 1, 2024, will: Eliminate the base salary system; Introduce a new framework for wages across sectors, including public officials, judiciary, and armed forces.

The NA Social Affairs Committee Chairwoman Nguyen Thuy Anh emphasized that citizens and public servants are highly attentive to the reform.

She suggested replacing "base salary" with "reference salary" in the revised law to align with wage reform objectives.

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NA Social Affairs Committee Chairwoman Nguyen Thuy Anh. Photo: NA

Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the importance of finalizing the revised Social Insurance Law during this session, urging collaboration to resolve outstanding issues.

To optimize efficiency, some suggested: Shortening Q&A sessions to two days; Conducting Q&A in Phase 2 to allocate Phase 1 for legislative discussions; Simplifying the presentation of reports and focusing on key discussion points.

However, Cuong proposed maintaining the standard 2.5-day Q&A format in Phase 1, ensuring ample time for drafting and approving resolutions. He also recommended adhering to the two-phase session format, allowing legislators to manage responsibilities at local and ministerial levels effectively.

This structure supports comprehensive deliberation, enabling refinements to drafts and resolutions while ensuring adherence to procedural regulations.

National Assembly Secretary-General Bui Van Cuong also noted that there are opinions suggesting reducing the duration of the Q&A session to two days; moving the Q&A session to the beginning of the second phase to allocate the first phase for legislative work; omitting the presentation of reports, verification reports, and explanatory reports on draft laws, focusing only on issues requiring discussion; not organizing the session into two phases; and not scheduling National Assembly meetings on Saturdays.

The Secretary-General proposed maintaining the total duration of Q&A activities and responses at 2.5 days as usual and conducting them during the first phase to allow time for preparing the draft resolution on Q&A activities, ensuring its quality, and submitting it to the National Assembly for approval at the end of the second phase.

Mr. Cuong also suggested retaining the procedure for presenting reports to ensure full compliance with legal processes and regulations. Additionally, he recommended continuing to divide the session into two phases as previously announced to the National Assembly deputies.

This arrangement allows agencies to absorb, revise, and finalize draft laws and resolutions while enabling part-time National Assembly deputies to address tasks in ministries, sectors, and localities.

Thu Hang