Decision No. 30/2002/QD-BVHTT Issuing the Rules on Funeral Practices to be Implemented in Agencies and Units under the Ministry of Culture and Information

Pursuant to …;

Issuing the Rules on Funeral Practices to be Implemented in Agencies and Units under the Ministry of Culture and Information

__________________________________________

 THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION

Pursuant to Decree No. 81/CP dated November 8, 1993 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture and Information;

Pursuant to Decree No. 62/2001/NĐ-CP dated September 12, 2001 of the Government on the issuance of "Rules on Organizing Funerals for State Officials, Civil Servants, and Employees when Deceased";

Considering the proposal of the Director of the Cadre and Civil Service Department,

DECISION:

Article 1. The Rules on Funeral Practices to be Implemented in Agencies and Units under the Ministry of Culture and Information are hereby issued together with this Decision.

Article 2. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of signature.

Article 3. The Head of the Office of the Ministry, the Director of the Cadre and Civil Service Department, and the Heads of agencies and units under the Ministry shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

REGULATIONS

On Funeral Practices to be Implemented in Agencies and Units under the Ministry of Culture and Information
(Issued together with Decision No. 30/2002/QĐ-BVHTT dated December 9, 2002 of the Minister of Culture and Information)

__________________________________________________

 PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. This document stipulates the contents, standards, and responsibilities for organizing funerals in the name of the Ministry of Culture and Information and its subordinate agencies and units for officials, civil servants, employees, and workers of the Ministry of Culture and Information who are currently working or have retired, upon their death; and the condolences for funerals not falling within the above categories but having work relations with the Ministry of Culture and Information and its subordinate agencies and units (hereinafter referred to as funeral practices).

This document does not regulate funeral practices conducted in the name of individuals (including leaders of the Ministry of Culture and Information).

Article 2. Funeral practices for officials, civil servants, employees, and workers upon their death reflect the respect of the Ministry of Culture and Information and its subordinate agencies and units for the contributions of these individuals during their revolutionary activities, national construction and defense, and the development of the cultural and information sector. Funeral practices for these individuals should be organized solemnly, economically, and in accordance with national traditions and civilized customs.

Article 3. The subjects of funeral practices include:

1. Officials, civil servants, employees, and workers currently working at agencies and units under the Ministry of Culture and Information, upon their death.

2. Officials, civil servants, employees, and workers who have retired from agencies and units under the Ministry of Culture and Information, upon their death.

3. Relatives of officials, civil servants, employees, and workers currently working or who have retired from agencies and units under the Ministry, upon their death, including:

a. Father and mother (from both husband's and wife's sides)

b. Wife or husband

c. Biological or legally adopted children

d. Officials, civil servants, employees, and workers from agencies and units outside the Ministry, having work relations with the Ministry and its subordinate agencies and units, and relatives of these individuals, upon their death.

Article 4. Depending on specific subjects, funeral practices may be applied in one of the following forms:

1. Organizing a funeral ceremony;

2. Accompanying the funeral procession;

3. Paying respects at the funeral;

4. Sending wreaths to pay respects;

5. Sending condolence messages.

Article 5. Funeral practices must comply with the following principles:

1. Agencies and units under the Ministry shall implement funeral practices for all types of funerals according to the regulations of the Party, the State, and these Rules.

2. Agencies and units under the Ministry shall not conduct funeral practices in the name of their agency or unit for National Mourning Ceremonies, State-level Funerals, or Condolences for Foreign Heads of State who have passed away, organized by foreign diplomatic missions in Vietnam, without prior approval from the Ministry's leadership.

3. In cases of necessity, superiors may carry out funeral practices that fall under the responsibility of subordinates, in which case the subordinates assist the superiors in implementing the tasks.

4. If the head of the agency or unit is absent and unable to perform funeral practices, a deputy shall take over. If all leaders of the agency or unit are absent, the person in charge of the organization and administration department shall take over.

5. Funeral practices should involve consultation and discussion with the family of the deceased.

6. When organizing a funeral ceremony, only a Funeral Committee shall be established, not a Funeral Board as in National Mourning Ceremonies and State-level Funerals, except in special cases as specified by the Ministry.

7. For retired officials, civil servants, employees, and workers from which agency or unit, that agency or unit shall be responsible for coordinating with local authorities where the deceased resided and the family to implement funeral practices according to the regulations (regardless of the length of service).

If at the time of retirement, the agency or unit has been dissolved or reorganized, the responsibilities are as follows:

a. For merged agencies or units:

The newly formed agency or unit shall coordinate with local authorities and the family to organize funeral practices for retirees from the former agencies or units.

b. For divided agencies or units:

The new agency or unit shall coordinate with local authorities and the family to organize funeral practices for retirees from the former agency or unit within the scope determined in the division decision of the competent authority. If the scope is not clearly defined, the agency or unit with the nearest office to the location of the funeral shall organize the funeral practices.

c. For dissolved agencies or units:

The immediate superior of the dissolved agency or unit shall coordinate with local authorities and the family to organize funeral practices for retirees from the dissolved agency or unit.

8. In special cases, the Ministry's leadership may direct alternative methods of implementing funeral practices different from those stipulated in this document.

9. Cases of funerals related to the Ministry of Culture and Information not covered by this document shall be reported by the Head of the Ministry's Office to the Ministry's leadership for appropriate implementation methods (consulting the Cadre and Civil Service Department).

10. Cases related to subordinate agencies and units of the Ministry not covered by this document shall be decided by the heads of the agencies or units on appropriate implementation methods in accordance with the regulations of the Party, the State, and this document. In special cases, report to seek guidance from the Ministry's leadership.

11. Expenses for funeral practices shall be implemented according to current regulations.

Chapter II

SPECIFIC PROVISIONS ON ORGANIZING FUNERAL CEREMONIES

Article 6. The basic content of organizing funeral ceremonies shall be implemented according to the "Regulations on Organizing Funeral Ceremonies for State Officials, Civil Servants, and Public Employees when Deceased," issued together with Decree No. 62/2001/ND-CP dated September 12, 2001 of the Government (hereinafter referred to as the Government's Funeral Regulations). The Ministry of Culture and Information further specifies the following issues:

1. For Ministers, Deputy Ministers; Social and cultural activists who have been awarded the Independence Order of Merit, First Class, whether still holding office or having retired from their positions:

1.1. Funeral Committee and Funeral Organization Committee:

a. Funeral Committee:

- Chairperson: Minister or Deputy Minister

- Members ranging from 10 to 15 people:

+ Representative of the Ministry's Leadership;

+ Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry;

+ Chairman of the Ministry's Trade Union;

+ Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of the Ministry;

+ Director of the Ministry's Office;

+ Head of the Cadre and Civil Service Department;

+ Heads of relevant Bureaus and Departments;

+ Representatives of the local Party Committee and People's Administration where the deceased resided.

b. Funeral Organization Committee:

- Chairperson: Director of the Ministry's Office, Director of the Ministry's Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City (in case the funeral ceremony is held in Ho Chi Minh City) or Head of the Cadre and Civil Service Department;

- Several members are specialized staff of the Office, Cadre and Civil Service Department, and representatives of the family.

The decision to establish the Funeral Committee and Funeral Organization Committee shall be prepared by the Cadre and Civil Service Department and submitted for signature by the Minister.

1.2. Notice of Death:

Published in the People's Army Newspaper and Vietnam Television.

a. For those who were or are Central Committee Members:

Announced jointly by the Central Committee of the Party and the Ministry of Culture and Information.

b. For other positions:

The Ministry of Culture and Information, the agency currently or previously directly managing and using the services of the deceased, the locality where the deceased resided, and the family shall announce the notice of death in accordance with the Government's Funeral Regulations.

1.3. Eulogy:

The Cadre and Civil Service Department prepares the eulogy for the Chairperson of the Funeral Committee to read at the memorial service.

1.4. Arranging Visitation:

All Bureaus, Departments, and subordinate agencies under the Ministry shall send delegations to pay respects.

2. For civil servants who are current leaders at the Bureau, Department, Office, Inspectorate, Party Committee of the Ministry, Ministry's Trade Union, Party Committee of the Central Cultural and Information Sector in Ho Chi Minh City, Trade Union of the Central Cultural and Information Sector in Ho Chi Minh City, leaders of subordinate agencies (at the Head or Deputy level), recipients of the Ho Chi Minh Award, State Awards for Literature and Art, People's Artist, People's Teacher, Professor, Hero of Labor:

2.1. Funeral Organization Committee:

Determined by the head of the agency or unit currently directly managing and using the services of the deceased, consisting of 5 to 7 members. The Chairperson is a leader of the agency or unit (at the Head or Deputy level).

2.2. Notice of Death:

Prepared and announced by the Funeral Organization Committee in accordance with the Government's Funeral Regulations.

2.3. Eulogy:

a. Preparing the eulogy:

Coordinated by the agency or unit directly managing and using the services of the civil servant, employee, and family.

b. Reading the eulogy at the memorial service:

- For the Head level, it will be read by a Deputy Minister responsible for the sector,

- For the Deputy level and other categories, it will be read by the Head of the agency or unit.

2.4. Arranging Visitation:

The Ministry's leadership will visit or delegate the Ministry's Office leadership, the Ministry's Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City (in case the funeral is held in Ho Chi Minh City) to visit. Relevant Bureaus, Departments, and agencies may organize separate delegations or join the delegation organized by the Office depending on specific conditions.

3. For civil servants, employees working in agencies and units directly under the Ministry:

3.1. Funeral Organization Committee:

Determined by the head of the agency or unit currently directly managing and using the services of the deceased, consisting of 5 to 7 members of the agency or unit and representatives of the locality (village, ward) where the deceased resided and the family. The Chairperson of the Funeral Organization Committee is a Head or Deputy Head of the agency or unit.

3.2. Notice of Death:

Prepared and announced by the agency or unit currently directly managing and using the services of the civil servant, employee, and family in accordance with the Government's Funeral Regulations.

3.3. Eulogy:

Prepared by the Funeral Organization Committee for the Chairperson of the Funeral Organization Committee to read at the memorial service.

3.4. Arranging Visitation:

a. For civil servants, employees working in agencies under the Ministry's Office (Departments, Offices, Internal Political Security Protection Bureau, Party Committee of the Ministry, Ministry's Trade Union, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of the Ministry):

The Ministry's leadership will visit (prepared by the Ministry's Office) or authorize the Ministry's Office leadership to visit. Depending on specific circumstances, relevant Bureaus, Departments, and agencies may form separate delegations or join the delegation organized by the Ministry's Office.

b. For civil servants, employees working in other agencies and units directly under the Ministry:

The relevant Bureau, Department, or Ministry's Representative Office (in case the funeral is held in Ho Chi Minh City) will organize a delegation to pay respects.

Article 7. Funeral arrangements for civil servants, employees who have retired from agencies and units directly under the Ministry of Culture and Information (excluding the subjects mentioned in Clause 1 of Article 6 of this Regulation):

1. Organizing funeral services:

The agency or unit that managed the civil servant, employee before retirement shall coordinate with the locality (village, ward) where the deceased resided and the family to organize the funeral. The Funeral Organization Committee shall be established upon the proposal of the local leadership and the family.

2. Notice of Death:

Prepared and announced by the Funeral Organization Committee in accordance with the Government's Funeral Regulations.

3. Eulogy:

Prepared by the Funeral Organization Committee for the Chairperson of the Funeral Organization Committee to read at the memorial service.

4. Arranging Visitation:

a. For funerals of leaders of subordinate units; revolutionary veterans; People's Artists; People's Teachers; Professors; Heroes of Labor: The Ministry's leadership will visit or send wreaths authorized by Bureau Chiefs, Department Heads, or Directors of the Ministry's Representative Office (in case the funeral is held in Ho Chi Minh City) to visit.

b. Other subjects: The Office of the Ministry, the Ministry's Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City (in case the funeral is held in Ho Chi Minh City); Departments and Bureaus managing specialized sectors organize to pay respects.

Chapter III

PAYING RESPECTS AND FUNERAL PROCEEDINGS

1. Article 8. Paying respects and funeral proceedings in the name of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism:

The delegation is led by the Minister:

1.1. Funerals

a. National Funeral;

b. State-level Funeral.

c. High-level funerals of comrades who are Ministers and equivalent positions (serving or retired) with relations to work at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

d. Funerals of relatives of the subjects mentioned in points a, b, c, Clause 1, Article 8 of this Regulation.

e. Funerals of relatives of leading officials of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

g. Funerals of foreign diplomatic officials who have relations to work at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

1.2. Members of the delegation paying respects and funeral proceedings led by the Minister include:

+ Deputy Minister;

+ A representative from the Department of Organization and Cadres;

+ A representative from the Ministry's Office, a representative from the Ministry's Representative Office (if the funeral is held in Ho Chi Minh City);

+ A representative from the Party Committee, Trade Union, Communist Youth League of Ho Chi Minh City of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism or a representative from the Party Committee, Trade Union, Communist Youth League of Ho Chi Minh City of the Central Cultural and Information Sector in Ho Chi Minh City (in case the funeral is held in Ho Chi Minh City);

+ A representative from the leadership of other related units.

The members of the delegation paying respects and funeral proceedings mentioned in Clause 1.2, Article 8 of this Regulation shall be summoned by the Ministry's Office (or the Ministry's Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City).

2. 1.3. In specific cases, the Minister may delegate the Deputy Minister or the Director of the Ministry's Office, the Director of the Ministry's Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City to organize the delegation to pay respects or send wreaths, condolences messages.

The delegation is led by the Deputy Minister:

2.1. Funerals:

a. Deputy Ministers of Ministries with relations to work at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

b. Deputy Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees directly responsible for cultural and social affairs.

c. Leading cadres (heads) currently holding positions in units under the Ministry.

d. Key leaders of Associations, political and social organizations, mass organizations at the central level.

e. Notable cultural figures awarded Independence Order of First Class or higher.

g. Veteran revolutionaries, people awarded Ho Chi Minh Award, State Award for Literature and Art, People's Artist, People's Teacher, Professor, Labor Hero currently working or retired from units under the Ministry.

2.2. Members of the delegation paying respects and funeral proceedings led by the Deputy Minister include:

+ A representative from the Department of Organization and Cadres;

+ A representative from the Ministry's Office, the Ministry's Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City (if the funeral is held in Ho Chi Minh City);

+ A representative from the Party Committee of the Ministry, the Trade Union of the Ministry, the Communist Youth League of Ho Chi Minh City of the Ministry or a representative from the Party Committee, Trade Union, Communist Youth League of Ho Chi Minh City of the Central Cultural and Information Sector in Ho Chi Minh City (if the funeral is held in Ho Chi Minh City);

+ A representative from the leadership of other related units.

The members of the delegation paying respects and funeral proceedings mentioned in Clause 2.2, Article 8 of this Regulation shall be summoned by the Ministry's Office or the Ministry's Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City.

2.3. The Ministry's leadership may delegate the Director of the Ministry's Office, the Director of the Ministry's Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City (if the funeral is held in Ho Chi Minh City) to organize the delegation to pay respects or send wreaths, condolences messages.

3. The delegation is led by the leadership of the Ministry's Office, the Ministry's Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City (if the funeral is held in Ho Chi Minh City), Departments, Bureaus, the Ministry's Inspectorate, the Party Committee of the Ministry, the Trade Union of the Ministry:

3.1. Funerals:

a. Implementing the delegation's authority granted by the Ministry for funerals led by the Minister or Deputy Minister,

b. Management cadres at the Department and Bureau level of Ministries, Commissions, Sectors with direct working relations,

c. Officials, civil servants, employees (serving and retired) of units under the Ministry according to vertical management.

d. Relatives of the above subjects if deemed necessary.

3.2. Members of the delegation paying respects and funeral proceedings: From three to five members who are currently working at their own unit.

4. For the positions mentioned in Clause 1.1 and Clause 2.1, Article 8 of this Regulation, funerals organized in other localities where the Ministry's leadership cannot visit, the Ministry's Office is tasked with sending condolences messages, wreaths of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to pay respects.

Article 9: Delegation paying respects and funeral proceedings in the name of units under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Depending on actual working conditions, the heads of units under the Ministry are responsible for forming a delegation from their unit to pay respects and funeral proceedings.

1. High-level funerals

2. Funerals organized by the Ministry and units under the Ministry

3. Officials, civil servants, employees and workers currently working (or retired) at their own unit.

4. Relatives of officials, civil servants, employees and workers currently working (or retired) at their own unit.

5. Individuals with working relations according to the functions and tasks assigned to the unit.

The delegation paying respects includes from three to five members. Depending on specific circumstances, the head of the delegation can be a head, deputy head or person in charge of organizational work at the unit.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 10. When a senior cadre who is managed by the Political Bureau, Secretariat of the Central Committee passes away while serving or retiring, the Ministry's Office will promptly report to the Minister to sign and submit to the Political Bureau, Secretariat of the Central Committee (through the Central Organization Department) for the Central Committee to direct the organization of the funeral according to regulations.

Article 11. Units are responsible for notifying (in writing) the Ministry's Office, the Ministry's Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City (for officials under the Ministry's management) when there is a death of officials, civil servants or their relatives. Depending on specific subjects, the Ministry's Office (or the Ministry's Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City) will report to the Ministry's leadership or inform relevant Departments and Bureaus to organize a delegation to pay respects.

Article 12. For retired officials, civil servants, employees and workers who pass away, the Retirement Club and family are responsible for informing the locality and the former management agency before retirement to organize the funeral or pay respects.

Article 13. The funeral organizing committee is responsible for developing specific plans, organizing the funeral program, receiving, guiding, arranging visiting delegations, conducting the memorial service, funeral procession vehicles, transporting the coffin, burial, grave filling, and installing the tombstone (if applicable).

Article 14This regulation shall take effect fifteen days after signing.

All previous regulations of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism that conflict with this Regulation are hereby abolished.

During implementation, if new issues arise that are not suitable, relevant agencies and units shall report to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Department of Organization and Cadres) for timely study and amendment.