DIRECTIVE

On paying salaries through bank accounts for certain categories
receiving salaries from the state budget

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Pursuant to Resolution No. 3 of the Third Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Tenure X on strengthening the Party's leadership over anti-corruption and thrift efforts; the Anti-Corruption Law and the implementation of the Non-Cash Payment Program for the period 2006-2010 and towards 2020, which was approved by the Prime Minister under Decision No. 291/2006/QĐ-TTg dated December 29, 2006, the Prime Minister requests:

1. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies directly under the Government, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities:

a) To continue coordinating with the State Bank of Vietnam and service providers to implement and expand the payment of salaries through bank accounts for the following categories:

- Administrative officials, civil servants, and public employees working in administrative agencies, public institutions, political organizations, and political-social organizations receiving salaries from the state budget;

- Officers, non-commissioned officers, professional military personnel, defense workers, workers, and laborers under labor contracts in the armed forces of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security (categories within the Secret, Top Secret, and Absolute Secret lists according to the national secret directory will be paid in an appropriate manner; those working in remote, border, island, and sea areas will be implemented when conditions permit);

- Other categories receiving salaries from the state budget.

b) Starting January 1, 2008, to focus on directing subordinate units and lower levels to proactively coordinate with service providers to implement and expand the payment of salaries through bank accounts for the categories mentioned in point (a) working in central agencies, agencies, and units under the People's Committees at all levels in Hanoi City, Ho Chi Minh City, and some provinces, cities, towns, export processing zones, and concentrated industrial zones that have already been implementing this program;

c) Starting January 1, 2009, to continue expanding the implementation of salary payments through bank accounts for the categories mentioned in point (a) in units that have not yet implemented this nationwide, where service providers can meet the requirements for salary payments through bank accounts;

d) To report periodically every six months and annually to the State Bank of Vietnam on the results of implementing this Directive for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

2. The State Bank of Vietnam:

a) To accelerate the progress of Phase 2 of the Modernization Project of the banking system and payment systems to develop the national payment system. Directly build, implement, and lead, coordinate with ministries, sectors, localities, and service providers to implement component projects according to the schedule set out in the Non-Cash Payment Program for the period 2006-2010 and towards 2020;

b) To supplement and complete the management machinery for payment activities to consolidate the legal environment and payment policies to ensure safe and effective management, operation, and supervision of payment systems in the economy;

c) To establish common standards for payment technology to ensure the connection of activities related to the deployment of non-cash payment means between service providers and non-cash payment support service providers and between service providers themselves effectively and safely;

d) To guide and coordinate with service providers to continue expanding the provision and guidance on the use of salary payment services through bank accounts, closely linking the use of non-cash payment means with traditional payment methods; clearly define the responsibilities of service providers and users, protect the rights of service users; diversify payment services; invest in developing technology and infrastructure for non-cash payment services;

đ) To serve as the main unit to implement, compile, and report periodically every six months and annually on the implementation of this Directive to the Prime Minister; organize mid-term reviews at the end of 2009 and final reviews at the end of 2010.

3. Ministry of Finance:

a) To direct and guide subordinate units and the State Treasury to closely coordinate with the State Bank of Vietnam and service providers to strictly implement the payment of salaries through bank accounts for the categories mentioned in Section 1;

b) To advise on building tax policies that create favorable conditions for service providers to expand salary payment services through bank accounts and develop other non-cash payment services.

4. The Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs:

To study and propose to the Government to submit to the National Assembly for amending and supplementing relevant provisions in the Labor Code regarding the payment of salaries to workers to align with current realities, encouraging and creating a legal framework for salary payments through bank accounts for those receiving salaries from the state budget.

5. Ministry of Information and Communications:

To manage, supervise, and develop telecommunications infrastructure to ensure stable, uninterrupted, and secure communication channels to support non-cash payment activities generally and specifically for salary payments through bank accounts.

6. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism:

To lead and coordinate with the State Bank of Vietnam and ministries, sectors, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities to organize information dissemination and wide-ranging publicity about the benefits and methods of opening and using bank accounts and non-cash payment means.

7. News agencies and press:

News agencies and press at all levels from central to local, especially Vietnam Television and Voice of Vietnam, should choose appropriate time slots to broadcast the necessity and benefits of paying salaries through bank accounts based on the use of non-cash payment means.

The Ministers, Heads of agencies at the ministerial level, Heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under the central government shall be responsible for implementing this Directive./.