Directive No. 32/2006/CT-TTg On Immediate Measures to Rectify Administrative Discipline in Handling Citizens' and Enterprises' Affairs

DIRECTIVE
On Immediate Measures to Rectify Administrative Discipline and Order in Handling Citizens' and Enterprises' Affairs
In recent times, the Government and the Prime Minister have proposed and directed the implementation of many measures to rectify and strengthen administrative discipline and order in the operation of the state administrative apparatus, particularly in handling citizens' and enterprises' affairs. However, the situation of bureaucracy, corruption, favoritism, and causing inconvenience in the process of handling administrative procedures and providing public services related to daily life and investment and business activities of investors and enterprises still remains widespread, at times and places being serious, adversely affecting the investment and business environment and causing public dissatisfaction.

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In recent times, the Government and the Prime Minister have proposed and directed the implementation of various measures to improve and strengthen administrative discipline and order in the operation of the state administrative apparatus, particularly in handling citizens' and businesses' affairs. However, the situation of bureaucracy, corruption, favoritism, and causing inconvenience by a portion of civil servants, public officials, and employees in administrative agencies and public service organizations when processing administrative procedures and providing public services related to people's daily lives and investment and business activities of investors and enterprises remains very common, at times and in certain places being serious, negatively impacting the investment and business environment and causing public discontent.

To rectify this situation and enhance administrative discipline and order in handling citizens' and enterprises' affairs, the Prime Minister requests the Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of governmental agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under the Central Government to focus on implementing the following tasks immediately:

1. Direct subordinate agencies, units, and organizations with functions and authorities in handling citizens' and enterprises' affairs:

a) Immediately conduct reviews, supplements, and amendments to internal regulations on procedures and administrative procedures that are no longer appropriate and cause inconvenience in receiving and processing citizens' and enterprises' affairs; resolutely eliminate intermediate stages, cumbersome and overlapping procedures, and unnecessary documents;

b) Must establish mechanisms for regular, independent, and objective inspection and supervision within their own organizations to overcome closed, non-transparent situations that easily lead to negative practices in handling administrative procedures with citizens and enterprises.

Publicly announce hotlines and email addresses of their agencies, units, and organizations to receive comments on procedures and information from individuals and organizations regarding wrongful actions, harassment, and negative practices causing inconvenience by officials, civil servants, and employees. Assign specific responsibilities for recording all information and comments; develop rules for verification, prompt handling, and public announcement of results.

c) Continuously maintain education, correction, and enhancement of the spirit, attitude, and service consciousness of officials, civil servants, and employees in performing their duties, especially those directly interacting with individuals, enterprises, and organizations.

2. By November 1, 2006, all points of file submission, document reception, and workplaces dealing with citizens and enterprises must publicly post:

a) The entire procedure, administrative procedures, and deadlines for handling citizens' and enterprises' affairs; the names and positions of officials, civil servants, and employees authorized and responsible for handling these affairs;

b) The rights and obligations of citizens, organizations, and enterprises related to the content of the authority's jurisdiction;

c) The rights and responsibilities for complaints and denunciations of citizens and organizations against violations causing inconvenience and harassment by officials, civil servants, and employees in handling affairs; the names and positions of persons authorized and responsible for resolving such complaints and denunciations.

All officials, civil servants, and employees responsible for direct interaction with citizens and enterprises at the office must wear identification cards clearly stating their names, positions, and working units.

3. Resolutely and strictly handle all violations causing harassment and inconvenience in administrative procedures in handling citizens' and enterprises' affairs, especially repeated offenses, organized acts, and serious circumstances.

4. Strictly implement joint responsibility for heads of state administrative agencies and public service organizations for the occurrence of violations by officials, civil servants, and employees under their direct management causing harassment and inconvenience in receiving and handling citizens' and enterprises' affairs, particularly in implementing various types of permit issuance, property registration, business registration, entry-exit, tax, customs, land use right certification, household registration, enrollment, notarization, authentication, medical examination, and treatment.

5. Media agencies and mass communication means should vigorously play their supervisory role, actively participate in identifying and criticizing before the public any violations causing harassment and inconvenience in administrative procedures; at the same time, promptly encourage and motivate exemplary cases of spirit and attitude in performing official duties by officials, civil servants, and employees.

6. The Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for:

a) Seriously implementing the Prime Minister's directive as stated in Circular No. 1880/VPCP-CCHC dated April 10, 2006, of the Government Office on rectifying the implementation of the "one-stop shop" mechanism in local administrative agencies; urgently draft and submit to the Prime Minister for approval the draft Decision on the Implementation Rules for the "one-stop shop" mechanism in central ministries and sectors. Report to the Prime Minister on the implementation results before September 30, 2006;

b) Submit to the Government before October 30, 2006, draft Decrees on individual accountability for heads of administrative agencies and draft Decree on administrative inspection.

7. The Office of the Government shall enhance and improve the effectiveness of its work in receiving and handling issues and recommendations regarding administrative procedures within the scope of consideration and resolution by the Government and the Prime Minister pursuant to Decision No. 22/2006/QĐ-TTg dated January 24, 2006 of the Prime Minister, with particular attention given to monitoring and urging ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies under the Government, and provincial and municipal People's Committees to promptly and thoroughly resolve individual, organizational, and business concerns about administrative procedures and processes; and to publicly disclose the results of handling violations.

8. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of agencies under the Government, and Chairpersons of provincial and municipal People's Committees must issue specific directives based on this Directive and regularly inspect subordinate agencies and units to strengthen administrative discipline and order in addressing citizens' and businesses' affairs. They shall report periodically every three months to the Prime Minister on the implementation of these tasks.

The Office of the Government shall monitor, inspect, and urge the implementation of this Directive, compile, and report to the Prime Minister the results of its implementation./.