CIRCULAR

PRESCRIBING THE SUPPORT FOR THE ELDERLY IN MASS TRANSIT

Pursuant to the November 23, 2009 Law on the Elderly;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 06/2011/ND-CP of January 14, 2011, detailing and guiding a number of articles of the Law on the Elderly;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 51/2008/ND-CP of April 22, 2008, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

The Minister of Transport prescribes the support for the elderly in mass transit as follows:

Article 1. Scope of regulation and subjects of application

1. Scope of regulation

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2. Subjects of application

a/ Agencies, units, organizations and individuals involved in public transportation of passengers;

b/ Commuters aged full 60 or over as provided in Article 2 of the Law on the Elderly.

Article 2. Support for the elderly in mass transit

1. Support for the elderly when they join in railway or waterway transport

a/ The elderly, when traveling by train, passenger seagoing ships or inland waterway vessels, may buy tickets at counters reserved for priority subjects.

Train or ship attendants shall guide and arrange convenient seats for the elderly; support the elderly in boarding or alighting vehicles and arrange their luggage when necessary.

b/ The elderly, when traveling by train, are entitled to a reduction of at least 15% of the ticket prices and, service charges when using the services of luggage handling, telephone booking, ticket home delivery; a reduction of at least 15% of the ticket prices when traveling by inland waterway vessels or passenger seagoing ships.

The specific reduction levels shall be set and publicized by heads of transport business organizations, based on practical conditions and specific time.

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a/ The elderly using road mass transit vehicles are given priority to buy tickets at counters and to use seats, which are reserved for priority subjects;

b/ Drivers and attendants of passenger vehicles shall guide the elderly to use priority seats, support them in boarding and alighting vehicles and arrange luggage for persons who need special care;

c/ Transport enterprises are encouraged to work out schemes on ticket price exemption or reduction for the elderly and publicize them on their routes of transport.

3. Support for the elderly when they travel by air

a/ Employees of Vietnamese airlines, airport enterprises and relevant aviation service enterprises shall guide, support and create favorable conditions for the elderly in passenger service chains at Vietnamese airports and airfields, including the booking procedures, check-in, aviation security check, waiting in waiting lounges, boarding and receipt of consigned luggage at their destinations;

b/ Flight crews of Vietnamese airlines shall carefully guide and support the elderly in approaching their seals, arranging their personal effects onboard the planes;

c/ Enterprises mentioned at Points a and b of this Clause shall formulate or amend and supplement the current regulations and documents on passenger service instructions and perform other necessary activities suitable to each airport or airfield, aiming to implement the provisions of this Clause;

d/ Passengers being the elderly enjoy a reduction of at least 15% of the prices of economy-class tickets with least restricted conditions, which are sold in the Vietnamese territory on domestic air-routes. The specific reduction levels shall be set and publicized by airlines, based on practical conditions.

4. For the elderly who need special care by their accompanying relatives, the latter will be arranged at suitable seats convenient for such care.

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6. Organizations and individuals engaged in mass transit business arc encouraged to invest in vehicles and equipment in service of the elderly's safe and convenient travel: low-deck buses; boarding and disembarkation supporting instruments; information equipment and other devices.

Article 3. Organization of implementation

1. Responsibilities of management agencies

a/ The directorate for Roads of Vietnam, the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration, the Vietnam Maritime Administration, the Vietnam Railways Administration and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam shall guide and inspect mass-transit business organizations and individuals in implementing this Circular;

b/ Provincial-level Departments of Transport shall propagate and, disseminate the provisions of this Circular to, and concurrently monitor and inspect the implementation thereof by, organizations and individuals engaged in public transportation of passengers.

2. Responsibilities of organizations and individuals engaged in public transportation of passengers

a/ To prepare necessary conditions to support the elderly in mass transit as required by Clause 2, Article 4 and Clause 4, Article 5 of the Government's Decree No. 06/2011/ND-CP, detailing and guiding a number of articles of the Law on the Elderly, and Article 2 of this Circular;

b/ To inform the elderly and concerned subjects of activities in support of the elderly when they join in mass transit;

c/ To incorporate the contents on support for elderly passengers in different courses of professional training and instructions for vehicle operators and passenger attendants.

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To propagate, disseminate and notify the provisions of this Circular to passenger transport enterprises and their individual members for implementation.

4. Responsibilities of passengers

Mass-transit passengers shall assist and support the elderly; coordinate with vehicle attendants in supporting the elderly for their convenient travel.

Article 4. Effect and implementation responsibility

1. This Circular takes effect 45 days after its signing.

2. The chief of the Ministry's Office; the Chief Inspector of the Ministry; directors of Departments, the general director of the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam, directors of the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration, Vietnam Maritime Administration, Vietnam Railways Administration and Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam; directors of provincial-level Departments of Transport and related organizations and individuals shall implement this Circular.

3. Any difficulties and problems arising in the course of implementation should be reported to the Ministry of Transport for consideration and settlement.-

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Thông tư 71/2011/TT-BGTVT quy định về hỗ trợ người cao tuổi khi tham gia giao thông công cộng do Bộ trưởng Bộ Giao thông vận tải ban hành