The Dutch state Thursday (Apr 19) appealed a decision by an Amsterdam court to refer a landmark case over Brexit to Europe's top court, as British expats demand clarification of their rights as EU citizens. A group of British expats in the Netherlands are taking the UK government to court over their rights as British citizens after Brexit. (Photo: AFP/Daniel Leal-Olivas) In what is believed to be the first such case as Britain prepares to leave the European Union next year, five Britons living in the Netherlands and two expat organisations took the government to court in January. They have argued that they have independent rights as EU citizens, over and above being citizens of any specific EU member country - including Britain. But lawyer Erik Pijnacker Hordijk, representing the Dutch government, told the appeals court Thursday that their case "is groundless" and should be ruled as "inadmissible". Even in the event of a hard Brexit, where Britain would leave without a deal … [Read more...] about Dutch state appeals expats Brexit case
Expats
Vietnam ready to slap compulsory social insurance tax on expats
Vietnam's labor ministry has announced that is going ahead with a controversial provision requiring expat workers in Vietnam to make social insurance payments, raising concerns among foreign workers and businesses regarding aggravated costs. Tran Thanh Nam, deputy head of the ministry’s Department for Social Insurance, said a draft decree for the new provision of the 2014 Law on Social Insurance has been sent to the government, and is expected to be ratified in about a month. The decree states that only foreign workers with labor contracts of at least a year in Vietnam are subject to the compulsory social insurance plan, said Nam, as reported by Vietnam News. “This group, however, excludes foreign workers who are temporarily transferred to work in Vietnam from overseas parent companies, regardless of whether they have labor contracts or not,” he said. The social insurance package covers sickness, maternity leave, occupational accidents, retirement and death, with … [Read more...] about Vietnam ready to slap compulsory social insurance tax on expats
Vietnam ready to slap face compulsory social insurance tax on expats
Vietnam's labor ministry has announced that is going ahead with a controversial provision requiring expat workers in Vietnam to make social insurance payments, raising concerns among foreign workers and businesses regarding aggravated costs. Tran Thanh Nam, deputy head of the ministry’s Department for Social Insurance, said a draft decree for the new provision of the 2014 Law on Social Insurance has been sent to the government, and is expected to be ratified in about a month. The decree states that only foreign workers with labor contracts of at least a year in Vietnam are subject to the compulsory social insurance plan, said Nam, as reported by Vietnam News. “This group, however, excludes foreign workers who are temporarily transferred to work in Vietnam from overseas parent companies, regardless of whether they have labor contracts or not,” he said. The social insurance package covers sickness, maternity leave, occupational accidents, retirement and death, with … [Read more...] about Vietnam ready to slap face compulsory social insurance tax on expats
Compulsory social insurance for expats to go ahead despite firms’ concerns
Viet Nam News Thu Hà – Mai Hiên HÀ NỘI — A controversial rule requiring foreign workers in Việt Nam to make social insurance payments is likely to be put into practice soon, several months after the Government’s issuance of a decree to implement the new provision of the Law on Social Insurance 2014, which came into effect on January 1 this year. The chorus of varied and strong opinions from the business community and related ministries and sectors has delayed the issuance. However, Trần HảiNam, deputy head of the Department for Social Insurance under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), said a draft decree had been sent to the Government, after getting the nod from the National Assembly Standing Committee in mid-March. Nam said the draft is expected to be ratified in about a month. The draft decree is expected to narrow the number of foreigners affected by the compulsory social insurance … [Read more...] about Compulsory social insurance for expats to go ahead despite firms’ concerns
Expats well blend in with local life
Gerard Gastel from France is busy preparing his kiosk at the Ecosunday weekend market, Ecopark residential area, about 18 km from downtown Hanoi. The old man has spent 20 years living in Vietnam, and is now the owner of several restaurants and cafes in Hanoi Old Quarter. He is among the first people selling products at this market, and his pastries are familiar products here. “I have been living in Vietnam for 20 years, and married a local wife. When you love the Vietnamese culture and your products are good, your business here is a success for sure,” said Gerard Gastel. Most of the foreign sellers at Ecosunday are from shops and restaurants in Hanoi. But Eddy Goseling, a businessman from the Netherland is a citizen of Ecopark himself. The organic skincare market is tough, but Eddy always finds a stable number of customers in Ecosunday market. “We sell in shops, not only in Hanoi but also another shop. But when we are here we are in direct … [Read more...] about Expats well blend in with local life