Business

For Sanofi, environmental protection is part of business The Saigon Times Nguyen Thi Luong Phong (L), a representative of Sanofi Vietnam, donates VND1.3 billion to a representative of Vietnam Red Cross Society - PHOTO: SANOFI VIETNAM For a better life, apart from improving economic performance, Sanofi Vietnam has always attended to societal and environmental issues to create values for the community. By integrating corporate social responsibility (CSR) into the core of its operations, the drug firm has enacted numerous pro-society initiatives and environmental protection programs to change lives. “As a multinational pharmaceutical company and a drugmaker in Vietnam for over 60 years, Sanofi Vietnam is striving to fulfill its long-term commitment to social responsibility,” says Emin Turan, country director of Sanofi Vietnam and Cambodia. “On the path to generating positive impacts on the society, the drugmaker has been mobilizing its capacity, ability and human resources to minimize environmental footprint of its production and business activities,” Turan added. Reducing the environmental footprint In an effort to minimize negative impacts from raw materials and wastes on the health of people and the environment during its operations, Sanofi Vietnam is constantly redesigning and renewing its products and services to create a healthy society. Its pharmaceutical plant in Thu Duc City in HCMC is launching a series of programs to reduce its waste by recycling or reusing the plastic and paper waste in a safe and sustainable manner. Through its program to eliminate plastic waste that was kick-started years ago, the firm targets to reduce the use of plastics at the factory to zero by 2022. Last year, the company managed to cut 14 tons of plastics in its production. In addition, the factory made a reduction of 470 tons of carton paper used for packaging in 2020 while carrying out the “Carton Reduction” program, and recycled 30 tons of plastic …

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From August 1, 2021, a 5 percent VAT and 2 percent PIT will be imposed on services such as saunas, massage, karaoke, discotheques, billiards, internet, games, tailoring, laundry, haircut and hairdressing, and other services. The stipulation is part of the Ministry of Finance's newly released Circular No 40 VAT and PIT management. The newly released circular has added some business fields to the list of products and services subject to VAT and PIT. In addition to these services, the service of repairing computers and household appliances will have 5 percent VAT and 2 percent PIT, commencing from August 1. This means that the total tax the providers of these services have to pay is 7 percent. Legal advice, financial consultancy, accounting, auditing, and tax and customs procedure services will also bear similar taxes. Data processing services, information portal rental, IT and telecommunications equipment leasing, and advertisement on digital information content products and services will also be taxed a total of 7 percent. The highest tax rate, 10 percent (5 percent VAT and 5 percent PIT), is being imposed on services that lease assets, including house, land, retail premises, workshops and warehouses, except for accommodation services; leasing means of transport, and equipment without regulators; and leasing other assets with no services associated. Other services, including cargo and passenger transport; food; equipment and transport vehicle repair and maintenance will be taxed 3 percent VAT and 1.5 percent PIT. Under the circular, business households and individuals who have revenue from production and business activities in one calendar year of VND100 million or lower won’t have to pay VAT and PIT. Also in the circular, MOF has released a list of business fields that will have to pay VAT and PIT depending on percentage of revenue. Others to be subject to VAT and PIT: 1/ business households and individuals engaged in e-commerce …

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For a month now Nguyen Thai Hoang, 27, a hairdresser in Hanoi’s Long Bien District, has had his business disrupted, and he has begun to visit his customers instead. He told VnExpress International : "Since the city ordered salons to close we have no choice but to provide services at our customers’ homes. It’s the only way we earn a living amid the pandemic." His monthly income of around VND10 million ($435) has fallen by 90 percent after the fourth wave of Covid hit Vietnam two months ago. On a Facebook group with 1,400 members in Hanoi, there are around 20 posts every day by barbers offering to visit customers’ houses for VND50,000-100,000 plus transportation. "We’ll bring mirrors, masks, protective shields, and rubber gloves to ensure your safety," one post by a salon in Thanh Xuan District with 20 barbers said. "Our job is the same but we have to travel a lot more so it is more challenging," a barber in Hanoi’s Ha Dong District who asked not be identified said. "We still have to pay rents so this is the best we can do while we wait for everything to reopen." Many people have not had a proper haircut since the end of April when everything closed. "No salon near my building is open, so I get a barber to come and trim my hair in the hallway of my apartment," Le Manh Hung, who lives in Hoang Mai District, said. "It was uncomfortable to have neighbors walk by and stare, but I got what I needed." On social media there are also many offers for nail, spa and skincare services. In HCMC’s Tan Binh District, last month Mai had to shut her hair and nail salon, which is the main source of income for her family. "I had to ask for time to pay rent," the 40-year-old woman said. She has been providing customers hairdressing and nail services at home to earn some money. However, authorities have expressed concern about this. Nguyen Hong Tam, deputy director of the HCMC Center for Disease Control, said people cannot maintain a minimum distance of two …

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