Public workers get wage, pension rise

Salaries and pensions have been increased for around 6 million Government workers, army troops, and retired people with effect from May 1.

The hike will pose an additional burden of VND11 trillion (US$540 million) on the treasury.

The money will come from savings made by cutting expenses at administrative offices (10 per cent) and profits from State corporations (35-40 per cent), with the rest sourced from the budget.

The minimum salary goes up from VND830,000 to VND1.05 million.

Since 2003, when the minimum salary was VND210,000, it has been adjusted for eight times, but yet a survey of 18 provinces, ministries and sectors found 100 per cent of employees saying their salaries were too low and they could not afford even the essential requirements.

It is expected that the next adjustment in 2014 would address the situation.

PM pledges better care for social beneficiaries

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has issued a decree to provide better care for people credited with revolutionary services and social policy beneficiaries.

Mr Dung has underscored the need for public response to “Paying the Debt of Gratitude” movements and celebrations for the 65^th anniversary of the War Invalids’ and Martyrs’ Day (July 27).

More attention should be paid to improving the living conditions of families of those who contributed to the nation’s past struggles against foreign aggressors, and encouraging young people to uphold revolutionary traditions and actively participate in national defence, he said.

Following the Government leader’s instructions, a general meeting will be held in Hanoi on July 27 and broadcast live on VTV1. A national conference will also be organized in the central city of Danang in July to honour outstanding individuals and organizations in recognition of their tremendous contributions to the country.

PM Dung also called for the upgrade and better care of martyr’s cemeteries nationwide.

Heat waves to continue in May

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, there would be at least two or three heat spells affecting northern and central provinces in May.

The rainy season in the Central Highlands and southern provinces would likely start at the beginning of this month.

Average May temperatures in northern provinces would be higher than the average temperature in the same month the previous year at 0.5 to 1 Celsius. Provinces in the central coast would experience possible water shortages and partial dryness.

Foreigner attacks passer-by after accident in HCM City

A passer-by was attacked by a foreigner who tried to flee the scene of a traffic accident on a busy street in Ho Chi Minh City last Saturday noon.

Eyewitnesses said the foreigner was driving a motorbike when he hit Nguyen Thi Thuy, a local woman, from behind on a section of Le Dai Hanh Street in front of The Flemington building in district 11.

As a result, both fell to the street.

Instead of helping Thuy stand up, the man revved up the engine with the intent of running away. Dissatisfied with his inappropriate behavior, Thuy tried to stop him.

Le Duy Vuong, a passer-by, showed up and demanded the foreigner give Thuy an apology and to compensate for her damage.

However, the unidentified foreigner punched Vuong hard in the face and even chased after him.

Angry, cabbies, motorbike taxi drivers and many passers-by tried to stop him. After being stopped, the foreigner called two friends for help, but local policemen arrived at the scene soon after.

Vuong suffered bleeding from his one of his eyelids and was taken to a hospital.

Police declined to divulge the foreigner’s identity.

Guides to improve poultry farming

The National Agriculture Extension Centre has published a set of guidebooks aimed at improving poultry breeding practices and curb the spread of bird flu. The provinces of Ha Nam, Hung Yen, Quang Tri, An Giang and Can Tho have successfully tested books, and about 24 other provinces were implementing the guide, said centre director Ha Thuy Hanh. In areas applying the guides in An Giang Province, the number of sick poultry fell by about 15 per cent and medicine costs were reduced by 30 per cent.

600 households relocated in Lao Cai

Authorities in the northern province of Lao Cai have relocated 600 households this year that would have been seriously affected by flash flooding and landslides at a cost of VND6.1 billion (US$290,000).

A total of more than 3,200 households need to be moved out of high-risk areas with an expenditure of VND33 billion ($1.5 million). But local authorities said they were facing a shortage of both money and land.

The province, however, would be ready with measures to mitigate loss of life and property from natural disasters this year, they said.

Mother, three kids die after eating corn cak

A 28-year-old mother and her three children have died after eating home-made corn cake in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang.

The cake contained a type of fungus known as aflatoxin, which can contaminate grain before or during storage.

The mother died on Friday, April 27, at the provincial General Hospital while her children, aged between 18 months and six years, died on Wednesday and Thursday.

Doctors said they exhibited symptoms of dizziness and vomiting blood.

Since 2008, a number of cases of aflatoxin poisoning have been reported in Ha Giang. The most serious instance occurred in 2008 when 26 people were poisoned and three family members were killed in Dong Van District. Corn is a staple food for Mong ethnic residents in Ha Giang.

Two policemen charged over HIV prisoner’s death

Two wardens at A2 Dong Gang prison in Khanh Hoa central province’s Dien Khanh district have been charged over the death of an HIV-positive prisoner, a high-ranking police officer said.

Lt Gen Cao Ngoc Oanh, director of the Ministry of Public Security's Department for Criminal Enforcement and Judicial Assistance, also said that the ministry would fire the duo.

Meanwhile, Colonel Nguyen Son, a warden at the A2 Dong Gang prison, told Tuoi Tre that authorities are considering expelling them from Party membership.

Police sources say the two officers Nguyen Van Khoa and Nguyen Thanh Phuong beat to death 35-year-old Nguyen Chi Dung, an inmate who is infected with HIV, with batons after he refused to undergo a medical treatment on April 28.

Dung’s death sparked violent protests and triggered disturbances among several inmates, prompting the prison officers to impose emergency measures to keep order.

Four die from gas asphyxiation in mine

Four workers died after suffocating in an underground coal tunnel in Nho Quan District on Sunday morning.

According to the province's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the workers, belonging to a local coal mining company, went underground to fix a water pump.

Reports said they suffocated on coal gas and were subsequently transferred to a district hospital where they later died.

Local authorities and the company provided the victims' family members with compensation amounting to VND50 million (US$2,400) each.

Fisherman saves seven foreign sailors

A Vietnamese fisherman, who was on his boat in the sea area about 300 nautical miles from Vung Tau, managed to save seven foreign sailors who were floating at sea, according to local media reports.

The reports cited information from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of Region 3 (Vungtau MRCC), which said the seven sailors belonged to a Malaysian boat called Neplife.

Three of the sailors come from Indonesia, two from Malaysia and the other two from Bangladesh.

The Neplife reportedly capsized around April 29 at night due to strong winds.

VNN/VOV/VNS/Tuoi Tre