NA deputies urge safeguard for residents' livelihoods in land law amendments

National Assembly deputies from Hanoi called on Monday for safeguards in the upcoming 2024 Land Law amendments to protect residents' housing and livelihoods. The recommendations come as part of the first extraordinary session of the National Assembly, focusing on policy orientations for amending the law. Key concerns include allowing land acquisition before approval of compensation and resettlement plans, especially in special cases.

Deputies emphasized that project timelines should be considered alongside social welfare, housing, and long-term livelihoods of affected families. Compensations for land clearance should aim to rebuild and stabilize the lives of those affected, rather than merely providing monetary payments. Deputy Ha from Da Nang stressed that special mechanisms must come with stringent regulations regarding criteria, scope, and responsibilities of implementing agencies.

Deputy Viet Nga from Hai Phong cautioned against basing the mechanism solely on the 75% land acquisition threshold, suggesting that project scale, number of dissenting land users, land type (particularly residential), and impact on housing and livelihoods should also be considered. Compensation must be based on the average land price, but the determination process should be clarified to avoid creating new disputes.

Deputy Thang from Hung Yen echoed the importance of rebuilding lives, adding that regulations should define the order of priority and conditions for various compensation forms. Deputy Minh from Da Nang suggested supporting individuals for a recovery period after land acquisition and granting them the right to express preferences for resettlement locations on-site.