Directive No. 05/2008/CT-BTC On practicing thrift and preventing waste at units and organizations under the Ministry of Finance during the 2009 Lunar New Year (Year of the Ox)

DIRECTIVE

Regarding the practice of thrift and the prevention of waste at units and organizations under the Ministry of Finance during the Tet holiday of the Year of the Ox 2009

To organize a joyful and healthy Tet holiday for the Year of the Ox 2009 and to continue strictly implementing regulations on practicing thrift and preventing waste, the Minister of Finance requests the heads and officials of units under the Ministry of Finance to perform the following tasks:

1. Strictly comply with regulations on practicing thrift and preventing waste as stipulated in Directive No. 26/2006/CT-TTg dated August 1, 2006 of the Prime Minister prohibiting the use of public funds for inappropriate gift-giving and entertaining guests; Decision No. 64/2007/QD-TTg dated May 10, 2007 of the Prime Minister promulgating the Regulation on gift-giving, receiving gifts, and returning gifts for agencies, organizations, and units using state budget funds and for civil servants; Circulars of the Ministry of Finance: No. 2904/BTC-TVQT dated March 13, 2008 guiding the implementation of Decision No. 64/2007/QD-TTg on gift-giving, receiving gifts, and returning gifts, No. 5131/QĐ-BTC dated May 6, 2008 on saving state budget expenditures in 2008.

2. Heads of units should proactively coordinate with Party organizations and mass organizations to direct subordinate units to implement measures to care for the lives of families of officials, especially those of policy beneficiaries and those in difficult circumstances; instruct officials not to bring Tet gifts to the homes of leaders, and to spend time with their families and relatives during the Tet holiday.

3. Organize year-end summary meetings, task deployment for 2009, greetings, and welcoming the new year, ensuring thorough thrift practices, brevity, and no ostentation. Strictly prohibit the use of official vehicles, assets, equipment, and funds of the unit to serve personal, family, and relative needs, banquets, sightseeing, tourism, festivals, purchasing gifts, giving, rewarding, and presenting gifts to collectives and individuals in any form that does not comply with state regulations.

4. Ensure rewards and welfare benefits according to state regulations and those of the Ministry of Finance. Rewards for collectives and individuals must be linked to actual achievements and work results to motivate and encourage officials to strive harder; use welfare funds to provide慰问、赠送礼物给财政行业的困难家庭和退休干部，必须符合党与国家的方针政策，并且公开透明，让单位内的干部和群众组织了解并监督。

5. Unit heads (especially units with warehouses such as State Treasury, National Reserve...) should take practical measures to ensure absolute safety of state funds and assets entrusted to the unit's management and use; organize shifts, fire prevention, and regular inspections during the Tet holiday.

6. News media and publicity departments of units need to do a good job of propaganda during the Tet holiday; the content of propaganda should be closely related to the professional tasks of the finance sector, the movement to learn from and follow the moral example of President Ho Chi Minh, and the policy of practicing thrift and preventing waste.

7. Tax and Customs authorities should actively coordinate with provincial finance departments and relevant agencies to advise local People's Committees on implementing price control measures during the Tet holiday, strictly enforcing the Price Ordinance, Decree No. 75/2008/NĐ-CP dated June 9, 2008 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 170/2003/NĐ-CP dated December 25, 2003 of the Government detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Price Ordinance, and Directive No. 03/2008/CT-BTC dated December 1, 2008 of the Minister of Finance on stabilizing prices during the Tet holiday of the Year of the Ox 2009. Within their authority, they must prevent price hikes and handle violations strictly, taking specific measures to stabilize prices during the Tet holiday; proactively coordinate with functional agencies to effectively implement measures against smuggling and commercial fraud.

8. Unit heads should coordinate with party committees to ensure that officials and employees of the unit strictly implement this directive. The People's Inspectorate and mass organizations: Trade Union, Women's Affairs, Youth Union of the unit should conduct inspections, supervision, and urging the practice of thrift and prevention of waste in subordinate units.

Units should compile reports on the practice of thrift and prevention of waste and report to their immediate superior units; units under the Ministry of Finance should compile comprehensive reports and report to the Ministry of Finance (sent through the Financial Management Department) as follows:

- Report on the implementation of the directive: before January 20, 2009.

- Report during Tet (by fax): on January 27, 2009 (the second day of the lunar New Year).

- Report on organizing the Tet holiday:

+ Quick report (by fax): on January 30, 2009 (the fifth day of the lunar New Year).

+ Comprehensive report: before February 4, 2009 (the tenth day of the lunar New Year).

(Fax number of the Ministry of Finance: 04.22208010, 04.22208020, 04.22208021).

Assign the Financial Management Department to take the lead in compiling the situation and reporting to the leadership of the Ministry on the practice of thrift and prevention of waste at units and organizations under the Ministry of Finance during the Tet holiday of the Year of the Ox 2009.