Social News 1/6 Vietnam to raise monthly minimum wage   The monthly basic minimum wage for civil servants, public employeesState workers will be increased additional 90,000 VND and rises up to 1.3 million VND from July 1. According to Circular 02/2017 by the  Ministry of Interior, monthly salaries for civil servants, public employees and personnel in the armed force will be calculated on the basis of the monthly minimum wage of 1.3 million VND instead of the current monthly minimum pay of 1.21 million VND. The Ministry of Interior also stated that  agencies, units and public organizations within the State apparatus should use the approved budget estimates appropriately and their additional financial resources to balance their wage bill and make up the excesses. Besides, the State will use the savings of 10% from regular government spending or 50% of the increase in revenues of cities and provinces to finance the project. 40 meter crack appears in Nha Be district A 40 meter crack appeared in a cement concrete road along Rach Tom River, Nhon Duc commune, Nha Be district, Ho Chi Minh City, reported the  city Transport Department yesterday. The road could be sunk into the river anytime. The HCMC Transport Department suggested the People’s committees of Nhon Duc commune and Nha Be district to actively collaborate with relevant agencies in moving property and arranging new residental places for affected households, placed barriers and warning signs for the damaged zones. On the same day, a 30 meter river bank landslide suddenly occurred in the area of Thanh Tung market, Thanh Tung commune, Dam Doi district, Ca Mau province. The landslide swallowed five houses into the river.  The local people quickly moved their properties out of the damaged areas. 13.24 million people join social insurance in Vietnam Vietnam’s number of social insurance holders reached 13.24 million as of April 30, said Deputy Director General of Vietnam Social Insurance Pham Luong Son. About 76.2 million health insurance cards were issued in the period, Son added. Vietnam aims to have 50 percent of the labour force covered by social insurance by 2020.- Labor ministry posts lowest reform index The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs gets a lower score in the 2016 Public Administrative Reform Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators (PAR Index), with a reform completion ratio of just 71.9%, while the State Bank of Vietnam takes top spot at 92.68%, the Ministry of Home Affairs said on May 30. The results were announced at an online seminar chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh on May 30 with all ministries and localities. The seminar was called to review administrative reform in this year’s first half. The Ministry of Home Affairs said it had made the 2016 administrative reform report after conducting sociological surveys, and the report had also been approved by an appraisal council. The 2016 PAR Index categorizes ministries into two groups, with one having met over 80% of reform completion criteria and the other under 80%. The first group comprises the State Bank of Vietnam, the Finance Ministry, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Planning and Investment. The second group includes those ministries with a reform completion ratio of between 70% and below 80%. These are the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, the Government Inspectorate, and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. The average performance for all the 19 ministries and equivalent bodies is 80.94%, according to the report. Regarding the PAR Index for localities, Danang takes the lead with a reform completion ratio of 90.32%, while Hau Giang is at the bottom, at just 62.55%. The average performance for all the localities is 74.64%. Can Tho and Japan’s Hyōgo in cooperation deal Vietnam’s Can Tho City and Japan’s Hyōgo Prefecture on May 30 struck a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation as part of Can Tho’s investment promotion tour to Japan, led by city chairman Vo Thanh Thong. Ho Thi Thanh Bach, deputy director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, told the Daily by phone on May 30 that Hyōgo Prefecture is the first Japanese locality with which Can Tho had signed an MOU. The signing ceremony was witnessed by former Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang and Hyōgo governor Toshizo Ido. The two sides are committed to promoting growth towards mutual prosperity and stepping up cooperation between Hyōgo and southern Vietnam, she noted. Therefore, Can Tho will facilitate investment activity of the Japanese side, especially in hi-tech and supporting industries, logistics and agriculture. Can Tho and Hyōgo will try to promote cooperation in multiple fields like tourism, trade and manpower training as well. Toshizo Ido said at the MOU signing ceremony that Hyōgo and Japan as a whole attached  importance to cooperation with Can Tho and elsewhere in Vietnam. Hyōgo will find ways to smooth cooperation in Can Tho between the two sides. Can Tho chairman Vo Thanh Thong said that as the center of the Mekong Delta, the city holds high growth potential, and that the city will make the most of the MOU signed with Hyōgo. 2 women arrested for transporting 1,400 synthetic drug pills Lu Thi Vuong (41) and Lung Thi Doi (16), residing in Ban Seo commune, Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province were arrested while illegally transporting 1,390 synthetic drug pills in Lang Son province. At 8.40 on May 29, in Dong Dang town, Cao Loc district, Lang Son province, the task force squad of the Lang Son Provincial Border Guard in coordination with the Huu Nghi International Border Guard Station and the Na Hinh Border Guard Station detected and broke down the drug-transporting line. The two suspects declared that the drug pills was purchased in Son La province at 40 million VND and was transported to Lang Son. They were planning to sell the drugs to a Chinese citizen named A Co (unknown address). Relevant agencies are expanding the investigation into the case. Border liaison offices work to fight against transnational crime A three-day National Border Liaison Office (BLO) Consultation began in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau on May 31. The function is discussing measures to counter transnational organised crime as part of the Partnership against Transnational-crime through Regional Organized Law-enforcement (PATROL). The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has implemented the initiative in Vietnam and neighbouring countries since 2010. According to Le Tan Tao, Deputy General Director of the General Department of Police, thanks to the PATROL, Vietnam has significantly extended international cooperation and information exchange on drug/human/animal trafficking, environmental crime and illegal immigration via the BLO system. A total of 16 BLOs are operating in 11 provinces, namely An Giang, Tay Ninh, Quang Tri, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Dien Bien, Son La, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Lang Son, and Quang Ninh. Based on the reaped positive outcomes, some localities have increased members for their offices in a bid to boost performance. Participating representatives of BLOs nationwide stressed the need to improve the BLO model in Vietnam and increase communications among BLOs. They asked the UNODC to supplement equipment, such as drug quick-test kits and thermal binoculars, and to open more training courses on foreign languages and occupational skills. Since the beginning of 2016, liaison among BLOs has helped relevant agencies detect 1,230 drug smuggling cases and 74 cases of illegal trade of wildlife animals and forestry products. Health Minister requests promptly clarifying medical incident’s cause Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien has asked the Health Department of northern Hoa Binh province to clarify the cause of a recent medical incident that killed seven kidney patients on May 29.  She made the request during a working session with the provincial authorities and medical staff of the provincial General Hospital in Hoa Binh on May 31.  Director of the hospital Truong Quy Duong said the hospital has provided enough samples for the provincial public security forces as requested.  Together with the provincial Health Department, it has also established a specialised board with the participation of experts from the Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital to make clear the cause.  Deputy Director of the provincial Public Security Pham Van Su affirmed that the police are doing their best to promptly clarify the cause.  Earlier, Health Minister Tien and leaders of the provincial People’s Committee and the Health Department visited families of the dead and living patients undergoing treatment in the hospital.  Medical staff said victims are recovering well.  Also on May 31, the Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) presented a total of 86.5 million VND (3,760 USD) to families of the dead and living patients. Seven patients died on May 29 with suspected anaphylactic shock while receiving treatment at the General Hospital of Hoa Binh province.  Once the deaths were reported, the provincial General Hospital turned off its dialysis machines and transferred the 11 living patients to Hoa Binh city’s General Hospital and Hanoi-based Bach Mai hospital for emergency treatment.  Four doctors from Bach Mai hospital also went to the province to deliver assistance. French art exhibition raises funds for disabled children All proceeds from the sale of works by artists this coming June 9-13 at the Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2017 will go towards the support of disabled Vietnamese children. The event, sponsored by the Appel Lorient Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will stage at the Gallery 01 Museum in the province of Khanh Hoa. The artists include Gilles Mével, Christian Halna of Fretay, Michel Chambon, Eric Le Pape, Magalie Bucher, Valérie Jayat, Isabelle Courtiau, Philippe Gentils, Virginie Cottin, Cécile Veilhan and Doan Minh Ngoc. In July, the exhibition will stage in Ho Chi Minh City at the Museum of Fine Arts. Deep-sea fishing vessel launches in Đà Nẵng Fisherman Nguyễn Thân of Đà Nẵng’s Sơn Trà District launched a logistics trawler for deep-sea fishing trips off Hoàng Sa Island after seven months of construction in a ceremony on Wednesday. The wooden ship with 910CV capacity was built for VNĐ5 billion (US$221,000), of which VNĐ800 million ($35,000) was from the city’s budget.    The ship, measuring 21 metres by 6.3 metres, was designed to accomodate a 12-member crew. The boat was built at the Đà Nẵng-based Sea Technology Company’s shipyard. The central city plans to develop a fleet of 400 trawlers by 2020, most equipped with global positioning and fish-detection systems. Top amateur footballers to compete in capital The first-class football tournament for amateur footballers, Saigon Special Cup, is scheduled to kick off every Sunday from June 4 to August 20 in Hà Nội, the event’s organising board announced yesterday. The tournament will attract the participation of 12 teams competing in a round robin. The best two teams will earn the right to play in the Saigon Special Premier League (HPL). The winner will get the award of VNĐ50million (US$2,170). At the event last year, thousands of fans supported their teams at the sport centre of the Ministry of Public Security in Hà Nội.  Phong Phú Hà Nam lead at national event Phong Phú Hà Nam jumped to the top of the National Women’s Football Championship after the seventh round match yesterday in HCM City. Phong Phú Hà Nam defeated HCM City 2 1-0 with the only goal by Nguyễn Thị Nguyệt who converted her teammate Phạm Thị Tươi’s smart pass for an irresistible finish in the 29th minute. The fifth win pushed Phong Phú Hà Nam to No 1 spot with 16 points. HCM City 2 maintained the second position from the bottom with three points. In the later game of the day, TNG Thái Nguyên won 4-1 over Sơn La. However, the result did not change their ranking. Thái Nguyên are at fifth and Sơn La at sixth. The rest of the matches in the round will be held today. HCM City 1 may take their top seat back in case of beating bottom-placed Hà Nội 2. Earlier, Hà Nội 1 will meet Việt Nam Coal and Minerals. Singing contest for journalists celebrates Revolutionary Journalism Day A singing contest for journalists will be launched in HCM City this month to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Journalism Day. The contest, organised by the HCM City Journalists Association and HCM City Television (HTV), will offer journalists a chance to demonstrate their talents and exchange information about their career experiences. Thirteen journalism agencies in HCM City and the provinces of Bến Tre, Long An and Tiền Giang will compete in the event on June 5 and 6 at the HTV Theatre. The contestants will present 28 performances of different music genres, including contemporary folk, pop, symphony and vọng cổ (nostalgia). The jury will select the 12 best performances for the finale, which will be held on June 12. The organisers will grant 12 awards with total cash prize of VNĐ200 million (US$8,800). All three shows will be broadcast live on HTV channels and provincial television channels. VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri/VNE