A draft resolution proposed by the Ministry of Justice outlines special mechanisms and policies to significantly advance lawmaking.
The draft proposes that law and policy-making personnel receive benefits at least three times higher than current levels; these benefits would reflect the position held and the nature of the work.
The state budget will allocate a minimum of 0.5% of its annual budget to research strategies, policies, and lawmaking, and this allocation will increase as needed to further improve the legal framework.
Proposed lawmaking personnel benefits to increase by 3-fold – 1Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyễn Thanh Tú presides over a new legal review council. (Photo: Hồng Mây)
The budget for research, policy development, and lawmaking will include creating legal documents and international treaties; researching national and international legal strategies; reviewing and examining documents; training, developing, and utilizing high-quality experts and human resources; and participating in the development of international laws and regulations and addressing emerging legal issues.
According to the draft, senior leadership and management positions involved in lawmaking or legal affairs at departmental and ministerial levels, grassroots legal officials, and individuals in positions related to preventing and resolving international investment disputes would receive a special allowance equivalent to 150% of their current salary grade plus seniority allowances and leadership allowances (if applicable).
These individuals will also receive professional fees and project funding for their work on policy and lawmaking, ensuring compensation significantly exceeds current regulations.
“Income from lawmaking activities will be exempt from personal income tax and other financial obligations to the state,” the draft states.
The government will establish special mechanisms for working conditions, evaluation, awards, training, and development to attract, retain, and utilize highly qualified and experienced personnel in lawmaking.
The Legal Strategy and Science Institute (Ministry of Justice) is proposed to be established as a national research center, a leading legal policy research center in ASEAN. Candidates for research positions at this institute must hold a master’s degree in law or higher and be proficient in at least one foreign language.
Staff at this institute would receive twice their base salary, based on their current civil service rank, grade, and professional title.
Furthermore, the draft resolution proposes the establishment of a Policy and Law Research Fund, a non-profit fund funded by the national budget.
The fund will support legal policy research and strategy development, enhance the effectiveness of lawmaking, and develop human resources, including utilizing domestic and international experts.
The government will allocate funding to the fund as proposed. Individuals and organizations making contributions to the fund will receive corresponding tax deductions.
Low Current Support Levels
The Ministry of Justice, the drafting agency, found that current benefits for lawmaking personnel primarily consist of salary (one time salary) and public service allowances (25% for central government officials).
Among lawmaking personnel, only those working in legal affairs at ministerial or equivalent levels, or government agencies, receive a daily allowance of 60,000 VND. Those in provincial-level agencies receive 40,000 VND daily.
“The current salary structure lacks specific provisions for lawmaking, which does not adequately reflect the demands of the work and the effort involved. Currently, approximately 40 positions or agencies have special compensation policies,” the Ministry of Justice noted.
The Ministry emphasized the need for greater attention to legal framework development, with a focus on transforming legal bottlenecks into investment opportunities and competitive advantages, thus fostering strong development incentives.
