• Four ministers to join NA question time

The five laws approved on June 18 during the ongoing National Assembly session are the Law on Deposit Insurance, the Anti- Money Laundering Law, the Law on Tertiary Education, the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention, and the Labour Code.

The Law on Deposit Insurance, passed with 92.99 percent of the votes, is aimed at protecting the legal rights of depositors and maintaining the stability of credit organizations, in addition to developing a safe and healthy banking system.

Only Vietnamese dong deposits made by individuals are ensured under the newly-adopted law.

The Anti-money Laundering Law, which was approved by 93.19 percent of the vote, aims to lay a foundation for regulations to combat and prevent money laundering, and impose administrative penalties, discipline or criminal prosecution on those who violate the law.

The Law on Tertiary Education, for which 84.57 percent of the NA deputies voted, should help resolve pressing basic shortcomings in the Vietnamese higher educational system and contribute to its renovation.

A total of 88.18 percent of the NA deputies said yes to the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention with the major targets to reduce the demand for tobacco, control its supply, and create favourable conditions for preventing the damage it causes.

The law bans the production, trade, import, storage, and transportation of pirated tobacco products, as well as any form of direct advertisement and promotion of tobacco to consumers.

It also bans people under 18 years old from buying, selling and using tobacco.

It will be illegal to buy or sell tobacco to people under 18, or encourage or force them to use tobacco.

The Labour Code was also adopted by a majority of 93.39 percent of votes in favour, along with amendments related to the temporary deferment of labor contracts, unemployment insurance, minimum wages, and working hours.

The law regulates that a female employee is entitled to maternity leave before and after the birth of her child for a total of six months. If a woman employee gives birth to two or more children at one time, she will be entitled to an extra month of leave for every additional child born at that time.

NA deputies are scheduled to discuss the amended draft laws on cooperatives and lawyers on June 19.