The People's Committee of Thanh Chuong District is addressing the issue raised in the report.

(Baonghean)The Nghe An newspaper, in its issues dated August 1st and 2nd, 2013, published a series of articles titled "Shocking Stories in Thanh Son Commune," reflecting on violations of labor regulations and "dubious financial revenue and expenditure" in Thanh Son commune, Thanh Chuong district.

On August 20, 2013, the People's Committee of Thanh Chuong District sent công văn (official letter) No. 2118/UBND to Nghe An Newspaper, with the following content:

The issues raised in the Nghe An Newspaper article had previously been investigated by the District Finance and Planning Department regarding the revenue and expenditure of the Thanh Son commune budget. A document was issued requesting the commune to immediately rectify the payment of monthly salaries and allowances to officials and civil servants, as well as retroactive payments for salary increases and allowances. By July 9, 2013, Thanh Son commune had resolved these issues.

Payments for retroactive salary increases, allowances, and subsidies for officials, civil servants, part-time staff, militia members, etc., totaling 228,780,000 VND; Payments for salaries, allowances, and subsidies for officials, civil servants, social welfare beneficiaries, and other eligible recipients, with a delayed payment amount of 316,449,000 VND; As of June 1, 2013, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Son Commune appointed Mr. Lo Van Tinh as the commune's budget chief accountant, replacing Mr. Pham Van Lan.

On August 8, 2013, the Chairman of the District People's Committee, along with the leaders of the Finance and Planning Department, and with the participation of the Standing Committee member of the District Party Committee in charge of the region, held a working session with the Standing Committee of the Commune Party Committee, the Standing Committee of the Commune People's Council, the Chief and Vice-Chairmen of the Commune People's Committee, members of the Commune People's Committee, the Chairman of the Fatherland Front, and mass organizations at the commune level.

During the meeting, the Chairman of the District People's Committee pointed out the recent violations and shortcomings, noting that the primary responsibility lies with the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee and the Chief Accountant of the Commune Budget, who have neglected financial and budget management; failed to promptly pay salaries, allowances, and subsidies to officials, civil servants, social welfare beneficiaries, and other eligible recipients; and delayed social insurance contributions for some officials. They also neglected revenue management and the implementation of budget expenditures, failing to adhere to the budget approved by the Commune People's Council. This led to overspending on several items, such as Party funds, state administrative management funds, and support for education, culture, information, and sports, when there was no guaranteed revenue source. Instead, funds were drawn from other budget sources that should have been used for these purposes, such as electricity subsidies for poor households in the third quarter of 2012, subsidies for land preparation for tea cultivation, and subsidies for tea seedlings. Furthermore, the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee neglected the management of the accounting staff.

The Chairman of the District People's Committee also clarified:

- The Party Committee of the commune, headed by the Secretary, has neglected its leadership role in the commune's finance and budget; the People's Council of the commune, headed by the Chairman of the People's Council, has failed to effectively direct the People's Council's supervision of the Commune People's Committee in the implementation of the commune's annual revenue and expenditure budget; the Vice Chairmen and members of the Commune People's Committee have not fulfilled their responsibilities in carrying out their duties to work with the Commune People's Committee in managing the commune's finances and budget; the Chairman of the Fatherland Front and other commune-level mass organizations lack a sense of responsibility in participating in building a strong government, especially in the management of finances and budget.

The Chairman of the District People's Committee assigned the following:

- Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, Commune Budget Accountant:

+ Immediately rectify the aforementioned wrongdoings and ensure full and timely payment of salaries, allowances, subsidies, and retroactive payments to officials, civil servants, social welfare beneficiaries, and other eligible recipients.

+ Strictly adhere to the expenditure budget to manage the budget; absolutely do not use other sources for regular expenditures.

+ Coordinate with Tuong Duong district to resolve outstanding social insurance procedures for some officials before December 31, 2013.

+ Recover and deposit into the commune's budget the amount of 72,480,000 VND from the rental fee for erecting telecommunication poles.

+ Strengthen the management of officials and civil servants, conduct annual performance reviews in accordance with regulations to promptly recommend replacement or disciplinary action against officials and civil servants who fail to fulfill their duties.

- The Standing Committee of the Commune Party Committee strengthens the Party's leadership in the commune's financial and budgetary work.

- The People's Council of the commune, headed by the Chairman of the People's Council of the commune, shall strengthen the direction and supervision of the implementation of the commune's revenue and expenditure budget to ensure sound financial and budgetary operations.

- The Fatherland Front of the commune and other mass organizations should fulfill their responsibilities in building a strong government.

- The Finance and Planning Department is tasked with strengthening inspections and assisting communes in effectively managing their financial and budgetary affairs, preventing similar violations from occurring. Simultaneously, they are to clarify the funding allocated for patrolling and protecting border markers, and the amount of excess regular expenditure, in order to submit a report to the District People's Committee for conclusion and handling (if any violations are found).

The District People's Committee sincerely thanks Nghe An Newspaper for its reporting on the incident in Thanh Son commune. The district hopes to receive the attention and support of your agency to work together with the district government to rectify and bring the financial and budgetary management in Thanh Son commune (a newly resettled ethnic minority commune in the district) into order.

Thanh Chuong District People's Committee