Officials who make dishonest asset declarations may be dismissed from their positions.

According to Decree 68, which came into effect on September 30th, officials who make dishonest declarations of assets and income may face the highest disciplinary action, which is dismissal from their position.

On August 8th, the Government issued Decree 68, amending and supplementing several articles of Decree No. 37 dated March 9, 2007, on transparency of assets and income, which includes provisions for the public disclosure of asset and income declarations. One of the additional provisions in this decree concerns the principles of asset and income declaration. It emphasizes that those obligated to declare assets and income are responsible for the accuracy, truthfulness, and completeness of the declared information. Furthermore, supplementary annual declarations are only required when the person obligated to declare experiences a change in total income of 50 million VND or more during the declaration period, or when there are changes in assets and income that must be declared according to regulations.

Officials who make dishonest declarations of assets and income may face the highest penalties.
by dismissal from office. Illustration photo: Hoang Ha

Decree 68 has amended, supplemented, and clearly stipulated the public disclosure of asset and income declarations by those obligated to declare them. These declarations must be publicly disclosed within the agency, organization, or unit where they regularly work. The minimum public disclosure period is 30 days.

Based on the characteristics and circumstances of the agency, organization, or unit, the person authorized to manage cadres, civil servants, and public employees shall decide whether to make the information public by announcing it at a meeting or posting the declaration at the agency's, organization's, or unit's office. The public disclosure period is from December 31st to March 31st of the following year.

The asset and income declarations of candidates for National Assembly and People's Council representatives must be made public at the voters' meeting in their workplace or place of residence. The timing of the public disclosure is determined by the Election Council, the Standing Committee, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee.

The asset and income declarations of prospective candidates for election or approval by the National Assembly and People's Councils must be made public to National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at the session. The timing and form of public disclosure shall be in accordance with the regulations of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the Standing Committee of the People's Council.

Individuals obligated to declare their assets and income who are members of political organizations or socio-political organizations must, in addition to publicly disclosing the declarations stipulated above, also publicly disclose the declarations required by those organizations.

In particular, the new government decree has added a new form of disciplinary action for those who make dishonest declarations of assets and income. Under the old regulations, those found to be dishonest in declaring assets and income would be subject to disciplinary action depending on the nature and severity of the offense, including reprimand, warning, demotion in salary grade, or demotion in rank.

In Decree 68, in addition to the disciplinary measures mentioned above, the disciplinary measure of dismissal for officials and demotion or dismissal for civil servants who make dishonest declarations are added.

Furthermore, delays in declaring assets and income, organizing the declaration process, and compiling reports on asset and income transparency will also result in disciplinary action. Specifically, the head of an agency whose staff are required to declare assets and income but delay the declaration process; individuals obligated to declare assets and income but delay the declaration; and individuals responsible for compiling and reporting on asset and income transparency who are slow in doing so will be subject to disciplinary action ranging from reprimand, warning, or demotion, depending on the nature and severity of the offense.

Decree 68 came into effect on September 30, 2011.

According to VnExpress