Directive No. 26/2006/CT-TTg on strictly prohibiting the use of public funds for inappropriate gifts and hospitality

 DIRECTIVE

On Prohibiting the Use of Public Funds for Gifts and Entertainment in Violation of Regulations

In recent times, the Government has issued many documents stipulating the promotion of thrift and the prevention of waste, and prohibiting the use of state funds and assets to reward, give gifts, grants, and presents to organizations and individuals in violation of regulations. 

However, the situation of using state funds and assets, or those derived from the state budget (referred to as "public funds"), to reward, give gifts, grants, and presents and entertain guests in violation of regulations remains quite common, leading to significant waste and loss of public funds, negatively impacting the ethics and quality of cadres and civil servants, and causing dissatisfaction and discontent in society.

To immediately rectify this situation, in addition to strictly implementing existing documents, the Prime Minister instructs the Ministers, Heads of Ministries equivalent to ministries, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of People's Committees at all levels, and heads of organizations and units that use public funds:

1. Strictly prohibit the use of public funds to reward, give gifts, grants, and presents in violation of state regulations; strictly prohibit the acceptance of money and assets under various forms of rewards, gifts, grants, and presents in violation of standards and subjects prescribed by law. Organizations and individuals who receive rewards, gifts, grants, and presents in violation of regulations must firmly refuse them. If refusal is not possible, they must report to their direct superiors and return the money or items to be returned or handled according to the law. All cases of using public funds for rewards, gifts, grants, and presents must be carried out in accordance with the prescribed standards and subjects; they must be fully and truthfully reflected in accounting books and made public and transparent within the organization or unit for supervision by party organizations, mass organizations, the public, and citizens.

The person deciding on the use of public funds for rewards, gifts, grants, and presents in violation of regulations must compensate according to market prices; cadres and civil servants giving or receiving gifts regardless of their positions must be subject to disciplinary review and punishment; if there are signs of criminal offenses, they must be dealt with according to the law.

Encourage organizations and individuals who have given or received rewards, gifts, grants, and presents in violation of regulations to voluntarily report, compensate, and return them, and such actions will be considered for exemption or reduction of disciplinary measures.

The Ministry of Finance shall urgently draft the Regulation detailing the rules for giving and receiving gifts and returning gifts for cadres, civil servants, and officials in accordance with the Law on Prevention and Control of Corruption; submit it to the Prime Minister by October 2006.

2. Must thoroughly economize in hosting guests, organizing conferences, inaugurations, groundbreaking ceremonies, celebrations, commendations, and other events (hereinafter referred to as "conferences, receptions"). The organization of conferences and receptions must be simple, without ostentatious displays; participants should only include directly relevant persons. Strictly prohibit the use of imported alcohol for entertaining guests. All expenses for these activities must comply with the prescribed standards and subjects and be made public and transparent within the organization or unit. The head of the organization or unit organizing conferences and receptions must personally bear responsibility if there is any violation of expenditure regulations.

3. Agencies with management functions must strictly control the use of public funds for the aforementioned purposes; resolutely not settle or finalize accounts for expenditures in violation of regulations. Organizations and individuals approving settlements and finalizations of expenditures in violation of regulations must bear responsibility for compensation and be strictly punished according to the law.

Agencies with inspection, audit, and examination functions must strengthen inspection, examination, and auditing work to promptly detect, prevent, and handle violations in this field.

Do not consider for commendation or competition and impose appropriate disciplinary measures against organizations, units, and individuals who do not strictly adhere to the provisions of this Directive.

Seriously implement democratic regulations at the grassroots level, promote the supervisory role of party organizations, mass organizations, the public, citizens, and mass media in the struggle against corruption, waste, and thrift.

Ministers, Heads of Ministries equivalent to ministries, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of People's Committees at all levels, and heads of organizations and units that use public funds must set an example in implementing and directing subordinate agencies and units to strictly implement this Directive./.

The Minister, the Head of an agency at the ministerial level, the Head of agencies under the Government, the Chairpersons of People's Committees at all levels, and the heads of organizations and units using public funds must set an example in implementing and directing subordinate agencies and units to strictly implement this Directive./.