Directive No. 24/2007/CT-TTg on Strengthening the Rectification of the Implementation of Legal Provisions on Fees and Charges, and Policies for Mobilizing and Using People's Contributions

DIRECTIVE
Strengthening and rectifying the implementation of legal provisions on fees, charges, and policies for mobilizing and utilizing contributions from the people
Fees, charges, and policies for mobilizing and utilizing contributions from the people

In recent times, the implementation of the Ordinance on Fees and Charges, as well as policies for mobilizing and utilizing contributions from the people, has achieved many positive results, initially restoring order and discipline in organizing the collection, submission, management, and utilization of fees and charges; contributing to mobilizing financial resources for investment in agricultural infrastructure development. However, there are still shortcomings in the implementation of legal provisions on fees and charges and mobilizing contributions from the people: some localities have been slow in abolishing fees and charges not in accordance with the law; some fees and charges have been issued without proper authority and are inconsistent with legal regulations; some places still impose relatively high contributions (especially for infrastructure construction), which are not in line with the income of the people; some mobilization efforts have not widely consulted the community before issuance; some mobilization efforts, which should be voluntary social and charitable contributions, are instead mandatory...

To address the above situation and strictly implement legal provisions on fees and charges, as well as policies for mobilizing contributions from the people, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. The Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall be responsible for directing the implementation of the following tasks:

a) Immediately abolish all fee and charge items not listed in the detailed list of fees and charges attached to Decree No. 24/2006/ND-CP dated March 6, 2006, amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 57/2002/ND-CP dated June 3, 2002 of the Government detailing the implementation of the Ordinance on Fees and Charges.

By November 30, 2007, if any province or city still has fees and charges contrary to legal provisions, the Chairperson of the People's Committee of that province or city shall bear responsibility before the Prime Minister.

For fee and charge items listed in the detailed list but lacking guidance from competent authorities, they shall not be collected, and the rates of similar fee and charge items shall not be applied. If such collections have already been organized, they must be immediately halted.

Propose and recommend to competent authorities to amend or abolish unreasonable and unsuitable fee and charge items in light of the actual conditions of the locality.

b) For voluntary contributions to build infrastructure and social and charitable contributions, they must be implemented according to the principle of voluntariness. People's Councils and People's Committees at all levels shall not issue compulsory contribution documents, nor assign contribution targets to lower-level units, nor link contribution mobilization with the provision of public services enjoyed by the people.

Direct departments, bureaus, sectors, and lower-level People's Committees to review and immediately abolish documents for mobilizing contributions from the people that were issued incorrectly in the past.

c) Closely monitor expenditures from service revenue of cooperatives, direct the implementation of transparency in revenue sources and expenditure items so that the people can be informed and participate in supervision.

d) Vigorously promote propaganda and dissemination to ensure that the people understand the policies and legal provisions for each fee and charge item; contributions and the prices of certain services. Implement transparency in the mobilization, management, and utilization of contributions from the people. Enhance the responsibility of provincial departments and state agencies in inspecting and supervising the mobilization and utilization of contributions from the people.

đ) Direct the inspection and handling of organizations and individuals who fail to strictly comply with the above provisions; report to the Prime Minister by November 30, 2007, on the results of reviewing, abolishing, exempting, and reducing fees and charges and contributions from the people in their locality; simultaneously report to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

2. By the fourth quarter of 2007, the Ministry of Education and Training shall complete the drafting of the Proposal on Tuition Fees, and the Ministry of Health shall complete the drafting of the Proposal on Medical Service Fees to submit to the Government.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall be responsible:

a) Take the lead and coordinate with ministries and localities to guide the exemption of fees and charges according to the List of Fee and Charge Types Exempted attached to this Directive.

b) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to compile the results of reviewing, abolishing, exempting, and reducing fees and charges and contributions from the people, and report to the Prime Minister by December 31, 2007.

c) Take the lead and coordinate with ministries and localities to conduct a five-year review of the implementation of the Ordinance on Fees and Charges, and report to the Government for submission to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for necessary amendments and supplements.

4. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of agencies under the Government, Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for implementing this Directive./.