Government meeting discusses draft laws
HA NOI — Eight bills were discussed at a Government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Ha Noi yesterday.
The event emphasised the significance of having new laws on National Defence and Security Education, Capital, Civil Registry, Employment and Mediation and amending the Land Law, the Anti-corruption Law and the Law on Science and Technology.
The drafted Amended Land Law is seven chapters longer than the original one, which came into life in 2003. The existing document has revealed weaknesses when it comes to regulating land disputes and other land use issues.
Discussing the drafted Amended Land Law, the Government members focused on controversial issues such as agricultural land use rights, land withdrawal, land prices, land leasing, and solving land disputes.
The National Defence and Security Education bill,meanwhile, makes national defence and security education a mandatory component of the educational curriculum. This change is expected to make the public more informed about national defence and security.
The drafted Capital Law stipulates policy changes in construction, development and city management in an effort to help city leaders address shortcomings such as inefficient urban planning, poor infrastructure and environmental pollution.
The Government members suggested the bill focus on issues that are either excluded from existing laws or treated inappropriately.
The Government members were divided when it came to the issue of immigration. While some insisted on applying administrative measures to limit permanent residency in Ha Noi, which is already overpopulated, others argued this would violate citizens' right to free migration.
Discussing the Civil Registry bill, most of the Cabinet members agreed that civil status and marriage certificates should be issued by communal authorities. Some suggested that cases involving non-nationals be dealt with at the district level.
The drafted Amended Law on Science and Technology, meanwhile, was said to be an essential step forward for science and technology, speeding sustainable development for the whole country.
The Employment bill should be clearer on controversial issues, including job skills development, employment insurance and the contribution by the State Budget to the employment insurance fund, according to Government members.
Some participants said the bill's compatibility with the existing Vocational Training Law and the Social Insurance Law should be thoroughly considered.
The document should also distinguish between employment insurance and unemployment insurance, they said.
In regards to the Mediation Bill, the Government members discussed procedures to elect and select mediators and the responsibilities of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front in local mediation.
While agreeing in general with the drafted Amended Anti-corruption Law, they said it should be more specific about who has to report their properties and incomes and make public individual property reports, and how corruption case suspects should be dealt with. — VNS