Removing obstacles for seafood businesses.

Việt Nam•09/08/2023

On July 12th, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai signed document No. 639/TTg-KTTH regarding some information reflected in the press.

Regarding the content of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP), which proposed six solutions to address difficulties faced by seafood businesses, based on the Prime Minister's directive, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai instructed the ministries and agencies: Finance, Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, Public Security, Construction, Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development, State Bank of Vietnam, Vietnam Social Insurance, Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, according to their assigned functions and tasks, to consider and handle VASEP's recommendations in accordance with the law, and report the results to the Prime Minister before July 25, 2023.

Shrimp processing line for export at the Coastal Economic Development Company - COFIDEC, Vinh Loc Industrial Park, Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hong Dat/TTXVN

The State Bank of Vietnam, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other relevant ministries and agencies, will review and handle, in accordance with regulations, the recommendations regarding the adjustment of lending interest rates, credit granting, and debt restructuring, in line with the solutions stipulated in Resolution No. 88/NQ-CP dated June 8, 2023, and the VND 10,000 billion credit package to support businesses in the forestry and fisheries product processing industries, as directed by the Prime Minister in Notice No. 167/TB-VPCP dated May 1, 2023.

The Ministry of Finance, in coordination with relevant ministries and agencies, shall urgently and seriously implement Resolution No. 88/NQ-CP dated June 8, 2023, on the online meeting of the Government in May 2023 with localities regarding the refund of value-added tax for citizens and businesses in accordance with the law; consider and handle proposals to extend policies on tax exemption, reduction, and extension of payment deadlines for taxes, land rent, and exemption and reduction of various fees and charges until the end of 2023; expand the scope of application of the 2% VAT reduction to all goods and services with a 10% tax rate as stipulated and the directives of the Government leaders in documents No. 1783/VPCP-KTTH dated May 30, 2023, and No. 3417/VPCP-KTTH dated May 15, 2023.

The State Bank of Vietnam and the Social Policy Bank, in accordance with their assigned functions and duties, shall consider and handle, in accordance with regulations, the proposal to continue allowing businesses to borrow from the Social Policy Bank to pay wages to employees who have stopped working.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Vietnam Social Insurance Agency, in accordance with their assigned functions and duties, shall consider and handle, in accordance with regulations, the proposal to reduce the unemployment insurance contribution rate for businesses until the end of 2023, research, amend, and propose reducing the unemployment insurance contribution rate from 1% to 0.5%, and temporarily suspend the payment of occupational accident and disease insurance until the end of 2023, allowing businesses to defer social insurance payments for 3-6 months.

The Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Construction, according to their assigned functions and duties, shall preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to consider and handle, in accordance with regulations, the recommendations regarding research and proposed solutions aimed at reviewing and amending fire safety regulations to classify fire safety risk levels for production and business activities; applying fire safety conditions based on risk levels, and minimizing unnecessary costs for businesses.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other relevant ministries, agencies, and localities, will review and handle, in accordance with regulations, the proposal to simplify investment procedures for seafood processing plants that increase capacity and upgrade technology.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor will preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to consider and handle, in accordance with regulations, the proposal to reduce the amount of trade union fees.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will study VASEP's recommendations to develop appropriate solutions within its assigned functions and duties, in accordance with current regulations and authority. Simultaneously, it will proactively coordinate with the aforementioned ministries and agencies in addressing VASEP's recommendations to resolve current difficulties facing the fisheries sector.

According to VNA/News Agency

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