Directive No. 05/2006/CT-BTC on stabilizing prices and practicing thrift, combating waste during the Tet holiday in 2007 (Year of the Pig)

DIRECTIVE

On Stabilizing Prices and Practicing Thrift, Combating Wastefulness During the Tet Holiday in 2007

The year 2006 saw many factors influencing price levels, particularly at the end of the year such as: natural disasters (typhoons and floods) causing severe damage in many regions across the country; avian influenza re-emerging in some areas; foot-and-mouth disease in livestock not yet contained; brown planthopper, yellow dwarf, and leaf curl diseases spreading unpredictably, causing significant losses to rice yields in provinces in the Mekong Delta region. Price fluctuations on the world market for important raw materials that our country imports in large quantities have created pressure for domestic prices to rise, negatively impacting production and business efficiency and the competitiveness of goods and services in the first months of 2007. World market prices for major raw materials imported in large quantities are expected to remain high; the state will proactively manage and adjust domestic prices according to market mechanisms based on consumer demand for goods and services, with purchasing power likely to increase during the Tet holiday, especially for essential goods and certain basic services, which may lead to sharp price increases, particularly in areas recently affected by typhoons.

To stabilize prices, prevent sudden price hikes for goods and services; and continue practicing thrift and combating wastefulness during the Tet holiday in 2007, the Minister of Finance requests the heads of units and organizations under the Ministry, Directors of Provincial Finance Departments, Heads of Tax Bureaus, Heads of Customs Bureaus, and Directors of State Treasury Offices to cooperate with market management agencies in central cities and provinces to promptly implement the following tasks:

I. TASKS TO IMPLEMENT PRICE STABILIZATION WORK:

1. The Director of the Provincial Finance Department shall take the lead in coordinating with relevant agencies:

- Develop plans for managing prices of goods and services, especially essential and important ones, during the period before, during, and after Tet, submit them for approval by the People's Committee of the province, and organize their implementation. Promptly propose measures to stabilize prices within the scope of local authority to prevent sudden price spikes locally.

- Immediately organize forecasting of consumption needs, combined with monitoring the preparation of goods supply for the Tet holiday (rice, food, sweets, beer, wine, clothing, cultural products, and means of transportation,...) by all enterprises of various economic sectors within the locality, report to the provincial People's Committee to ensure adequate production and supply of essential goods and services to meet people's needs and maintain smooth circulation; develop plans to reserve materials and raw materials for producing essential consumer goods to meet people's demands, preventing imbalances in supply and demand leading to sudden price increases before and after the Tet holiday, especially in remote, difficult-to-reach areas, areas recently affected by typhoons, floods, and epidemics, and industrial zones and large cities.

- Coordinate in strictly implementing Decision No. 276/2006/QD-TTg dated December 4, 2006, of the Prime Minister regarding electricity prices, effective from January 1, 2007; closely monitor compliance by organizations and economic entities; promptly take measures or advise and report to competent authorities for consideration and handling of violations in exploiting increased electricity prices to raise prices of goods and services without sufficient grounds, affecting market prices in the locality.

- Coordinate with related departments (Market Management, Taxation, Customs, Public Security, Agriculture, Construction,...) to control the market, promptly detect monopolistic practices, cartels, improper competition regarding pricing, illegal trade in banned goods, counterfeit goods, low-quality goods, goods of unknown origin, goods not meeting food safety standards; un-inspected meat and poultry and poultry products,... firmly handle cases of violation to protect consumers' interests.

- Inspect compliance with state regulations on price management, selling goods and services at the prices set by authorized agencies; inspect price labeling and sales of goods and services according to labeled prices; inspect the collection of various fees and charges to prevent businesses and individuals from arbitrarily increasing prices, fees, and charges contrary to the law during the Tet holiday, causing harm to consumers' interests, and strictly punish violations according to Government Decree No. 169/2004/ND-CP dated September 22, 2004 on administrative penalties in the field of pricing, and Government Decree No. 106/2003/ND-CP dated September 23, 2003 on administrative penalties in the field of fees and charges.

- Coordinate with the Department of Transport and Market Management agencies to inspect the implementation of passenger transport fares and parking fees for bicycles, motorcycles, cars, etc., to prevent arbitrary price increases during the Tet holiday.

2. The Heads of the Tax Bureau and Customs Bureau shall be responsible for cooperating in inspections and market controls as requested by the Finance Department to promptly address violations within their jurisdiction and propose to higher authorities for handling violations exceeding their jurisdiction.

3. The Director of the State Treasury Office at the local level shall be responsible for strengthening expenditure control, especially expenditures for conferences, summaries, awards, salaries, bonuses, equipment purchases, basic construction investments, etc., excluding unreasonable and invalid expenses; simultaneously actively coordinate with the Finance Department to implement measures to correct compliance with regulations and enhance thrift and combat wastefulness in the use and expenditure of state budget funds during the Tet holiday.

4. The Director of the Customs Department of the province or city shall be responsible for coordinating with the Border Guard Force and other competent forces to strengthen manpower, means, and organize patrols and inspections within the customs territory and outside the customs territory in border areas, land, sea, and air ports of entry. Collect information, detect, and promptly prevent smuggling, commercial fraud, illegal transportation of goods across borders to contribute to maintaining price stability in the domestic market, ensuring a fair competitive environment, and ensuring safety for the people.

II. REGARDING THE TASK OF PRACTICING ECONOMY AND COMBATING WASTEFULNESS IN THE FINANCE SECTOR

Heads of units in the Finance sector shall proactively coordinate closely with Party organizations, political and social organizations within their units to implement and direct subordinate units under their direct jurisdiction to fulfill the following requirements:

1. Strictly implement Directive No. 26/2006/CT-TTg dated August 1, 2006, of the Government Prime Minister prohibiting the use of public funds for gift-giving and the use of foreign liquor for receptions contrary to regulations. Direct subordinate units under their direct jurisdiction to thoroughly implement economy and anti-wastefulness measures in organizing conferences, year-end summaries, New Year meetings, etc.; direct officials and civil servants not to bring New Year gifts to the residences of leaders; allocate time off during the New Year holiday for family visits and greetings to relatives.

2. Strictly prohibit the use of official cars, assets, and equipment of the agency or unit to serve personal, family, or close relative needs during the period before, during, and after the New Year.

3. Strictly prohibit units in the Finance sector from organizing tours, travel, festivals, and banquets that are wasteful during holidays and New Year celebrations; using unit funds and assets to purchase gifts, rewards, and bribes for other agencies, units, or individuals in any form not in accordance with state regulations.

4. Units within the Finance sector that are entitled to bonuses according to prescribed regulations must strictly adhere to state, Ministry, and superior organization regulations regarding end-of-year rewards and team and individual bonuses for assistance provided in work. Link rewards with achieved results to motivate and encourage officials and civil servants to strive in their work. Publicize the bonus list for all officials and civil servants in the unit to monitor and supervise. Prohibit subordinate units from using bonuses to reward superiors in any form..

Use the industry welfare fund to provide慰问、赠送礼物给为革命作出贡献的家庭、残疾军人、烈士亲属以及行业退休干部，按照国家政策执行。对于受最近台风影响遭受严重财产损失的机关单位职工家庭，特别是特别困难的情况，要动员工人家过一个欢乐的新春佳节。

5. Properly carry out budget forecasting, settlement, and management of allocated funds to ensure the correct purpose, regulation, efficiency, and economy in the use of funds, guaranteeing absolute safety for state assets and equipment entrusted to the unit for management.

6. Heads of units in the Finance sector shall be responsible for directing the establishment of plans to effectively implement and instill the spirit of thrift and anti-wastefulness during the Tet holiday among all officials and civil servants in their units.

III. IMPLEMENTATION:

1. Implement the system of reporting market prices during the Tet holiday.

1.1. For provincial and municipal finance departments:

- Starting from January 1, 2007, in regular reports (daily, weekly, monthly) sent to the Ministry of Finance (Price Management Department), they need to supplement information on the preparation of goods for the Tet holiday and assess the supply capacity of goods, implementation of price stabilization at the local level, especially important raw materials and items such as pork, chicken, beef, fish, rice (sticky and non-sticky), processed foods, candy, fruits, flowers, and some service fees like bicycle parking, motorcycle parking, car parking, passenger transport fares...

- From February 5, 2007, to February 26, 2007 (excluding Tet holidays), for the 12 provincial and municipal finance departments: Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Nghe An, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, implement a daily rapid reporting system (by fax or email) on the quantity of goods reported daily according to Decision No. 1712/QD-BTC dated May 25, 2005, of the Minister of Finance on the issuance of the Market Price Reporting System.

After the Tet holiday, provincial and municipal finance departments shall report a comprehensive assessment of market prices (before and after Tet) to the Ministry of Finance (Price Management Department) by February 26, 2007, for consolidation and reporting to the Government Prime Minister.

1.2 For provinces and cities affected by typhoons in 2006, they need to report on the provision of essential goods for civilian life and propose timely support plans.

1.3 For units: Tax Bureau, State Treasury, Customs Departments of centrally governed cities and provinces: starting from January 15, 2007, implement weekly reports (excluding Tet holidays) on assigned tasks according to this Directive to the Price Management Department and higher-level units within their vertical sectors. After the Tet holiday, units shall report a comprehensive situation before, during, and after Tet to the Price Management Department and higher-level units within their vertical sectors by February 26, 2007.

1.4 The Price Management Department shall compile and report to the Ministry's leadership on market price situations periodically and urgently (if there are unusual fluctuations) during the Tet holiday of the Year of the Boar.

2. Implement the system of reporting on practicing economy and combating wastefulness:

2.1 Units in the Finance sector shall compile and report a comprehensive evaluation of the practice of economy and combating wastefulness in their units and subordinate units under their direct jurisdiction to higher-level units by February 24, 2007.

2.2 Units under the Ministry of Finance shall compile and evaluate the situation regarding thrift and waste prevention at their units and subordinate units, and submit the report to the Ministry of Finance (Financial Administration Department) before February 27, 2007.

2.3 In cases of unexpected issues, units shall promptly compile and submit timely reports to their immediate superior units, People's Committees at the same level, and the Ministry of Finance.

3. Responsibilities for implementation.

3.1 The Director of the Price Management Department is assigned to lead and coordinate with the Heads of the Tax General Department, Customs General Department, State Treasury General Department, National Reserve Agency, and the Minister's Office to oversee and direct units within the sector to implement price stabilization tasks during the Tet holiday of Year of the Boar.

3.2 The Financial Administration Department is assigned to lead the compilation of the situation, and report to the leadership of the Ministry or present a report to the Prime Minister on the work of thrift and waste prevention at units under the Finance sector during the Tet holiday.

3.3 The Party committees, People's Inspection Boards, and organizations such as Trade Unions, Women's Affairs, and Youth Leagues of units within the Finance sector shall inspect, supervise, and urge the implementation of thrift and waste prevention activities at their units and subordinate units.