Informal costs

The Public Reception Department of the Provincial Police at the Public Administrative Service Center.

According to information from the Department of Planning and Investment - the permanent agency of the Steering Committee for Administrative Reform, improving the competitiveness index and digital transformation of the province, in 2022, businesses assessed Tra Vinh province as performing best nationwide in: no instances of harassment when handling procedures for businesses; no unofficial fees paid when applying for conditional business licenses in the province or to environmental and market management inspectors. The 2022 inspection program and plan were developed with a focus on key areas; the implementation of indicators assessing unofficial costs was well-received by businesses.

Recognizing the importance of improving the investment and business environment and enhancing the province's PCI index for the period 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030, the Provincial Inspectorate has "joined forces" with departments, agencies, and localities, especially in raising awareness, responsibility, dynamism, innovation, creativity, and the quality of management and administration in improving the PCI index; promoting administrative reform and efficiency in inspections, aiming to create a transparent, favorable, and conducive business environment, thereby creating momentum to attract investment and develop enterprises.

In a discussion with us, Comrade Vo Van Long, Deputy Chief Inspector of the province, stated that the Inspection sector is strictly implementing Directive No. 769/CT-TTCP dated May 17, 2019, of the Government Inspectorate on strengthening administrative discipline and order for civil servants and public employees in the sector, and Directive No. 10/CT-TTg dated April 22, 2019, of the Government on strengthening the effective handling and prevention of harassment and inconvenience to citizens and businesses in resolving issues; and Circular No. 01/2021/TT-TTCP dated March 11, 2021, of the General Inspectorate of the Government, stipulating the code of conduct for officials and civil servants in the Inspection sector and officials and civil servants working in citizen reception. The provincial Inspection sector is stepping up inspections of civil servants in the performance of their duties regarding: compliance with legal regulations when conducting inspections; handling complaints and denunciations; and citizen reception...

In its role as a state management agency and tasked with overseeing the informal cost component, the Provincial Inspectorate has collaborated with various sectors and localities to effectively carry out its assigned tasks and areas. This includes strengthening inspection and supervision of officials and employees at the reception and results delivery departments to prevent informal costs; and coordinating with units and localities to enhance inspection and supervision of officials and employees working at these departments to ensure effective performance of official duties.

Specifically, in coordination with the Department of Internal Affairs, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 06/KH-UBND, dated January 30, 2023, on the inspection of public service in 2023 in the province; issued a decision to establish a public service inspection team, the Regulations on public service inspection in 2023, and conducted public service inspections in the province in accordance with regulations.

In the third quarter of 2023, the inspection team conducted 31 inspections and issued inspection conclusion notices at 25 agencies and units. After receiving the inspection conclusion notices, the inspected units proceeded to address shortcomings in management, leadership, direction, and operation in implementation and reported the results of addressing the recommendations in the inspection conclusions. To date, the agencies and units have reported the results of addressing the identified shortcomings.

The informal cost component index measures the costs incurred by businesses to cover expenses unrelated to production, investment, fines, and other unusual fees under normal operating conditions. This index is rigorously evaluated by businesses when considering investment locations and assessing the business environment.

Although the number of limited indicators increased in 2022 and the ranking was lower compared to 2021, Tra Vinh province had 4 indicators that ranked first nationwide, so the decrease in ranking was insignificant.

Simultaneously, units and localities implemented the plan for inspecting public service, issued inspection and self-inspection plans for public service in 2023 for agencies and units under their management; continued to implement documents from higher levels stipulating public service responsibilities; posted and organized the implementation of regulations on administrative discipline and order, codes of conduct, workplace culture regulations, and administrative procedures; promptly concretized the contents of regulations on administrative discipline and order from higher levels for implementation within the agency; established and maintained the operation of the reception and results delivery department to serve the people; regularly checked the implementation of working hours for officials, civil servants, and public employees…

The Provincial Inspectorate also carried out inspection and examination of enterprises and sectors, strictly implementing Directive No. 20/CT-TTg dated May 17, 2017, of the Prime Minister on rectifying inspection and examination activities for enterprises; the Provincial Inspectorate issued a document guiding the Inspectorates of provincial departments and sectors; districts, towns, and cities to develop inspection plans for 2023 for approval by their respective heads of departments and agencies for implementation; including the content of inspecting and examining enterprises in accordance with the Prime Minister's directives and Decision No. 867/QĐ-UBND dated May 13, 2021, of the Provincial People's Committee on promulgating the Regulations on coordination between functional agencies in the province in state management of enterprises after registration and establishment.

The Provincial Inspectorate has taken the lead in addressing and resolving the issue of overlapping inspections and advised the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to issue Decision No. 1142/QD-UBND, dated July 28, 2023, approving the list of inspection and audit plans for businesses in the province in 2023. In 2022 and the first nine months of 2023, the Provincial Inspectorate developed inspection plans that were consistent with the inspection program's orientation; followed the directives of higher-level state agencies; and met the political requirements of the locality.

The inspection program and work plan are developed to ensure focus and priorities; closely adhering to political tasks and meeting the socio-economic development requirements of the province. Inspection activities focus on rectifying and promptly handling violations of the law; promoting and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management, administrative reform, practicing thrift, combating waste, and preventing and combating corruption; inspection activities are linked to the resolution of administrative procedures.

The Provincial People's Committee Chairman's Office shall announce administrative procedures within its scope of management; improve the efficiency of the unit's reception and results delivery department; publicly and transparently disclose the process, procedures, and documents for handling work for individuals, organizations, and businesses; and enhance the public service ethics of officials and civil servants in performing their duties.

Text and photos: TRUONG NGUYEN

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