Local authorities and agencies in the southern province of Dong Nai have been asked to step up administrative procedure reform and assist businesses hurt by recent social disorders in resuming operation.

Phan Thi My Thanh, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee, made the instruction at a May 26 conference aimed to seek ways to support affected enterprises and maintain foreign investment flow in the province after the incidents.

Thanh also requested the firms to advance money to pay workers’ salary for the days off during disturbances, adding that relevant agencies will establish working groups to verify real losses of affected enterprises and work out solutions to this issue.

Besides, she stressed that Dong Nai’s departments, agencies and localities should promptly carry out the recent direction issued by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on providing support to the firms that suffered from the damages.

At the event, some participants suggested the province’s taxation sector deduct value-added tax levied on input materials destroyed in the incidents and extend the deadline for paying corporate income tax for affected companies.

Many expressed hope that the local customs sector will not impose a fine on enterprises which have lost customs-related documents and records. Business representatives also asked for extension of the deadline for tax payment for affected businesses while exempting or reducing import and value-added taxes levied on imported machines and materials damaged during the disturbances.

Representatives from Chinese- and Taiwanese-invested enterprises said their firms need all-faceted support from the local authorities and other stakeholders in order to stabilise their production. They also affirmed Dong Nai province is an attractive destination and will continue to maintain their investment in the locality.

Earlier, Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung has asked Ho Chi Minh City, central Ha Tinh province and southern Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces to team up with insurance firms to verify real losses of affected businesses and quicken up payment for the damages.

The disturbances erupted during workers’ rallies in protest of China’s illegal placement of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone from early May.

Some extremists incited others to destroy property of foreign firms as well as of the State, businesses and individuals, and acted against law enforcement officials, disrupting social order and business activities. Thanks to the government’s timely interference, most affected companies have returned to work and social order and security has been restored.-VNA