Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports speaks out about 'rich' actors still receiving support due to difficulties due to Covid-19 pandemic

Thanh Huong and Hong Dang are two of the 99 artists on the list of receiving support.

On August 31, sharing about 99 artists of Hanoi being on the list to receive support money for difficulties due to the Covid-19 epidemic, there were some faces such asThanh Huong, Hong Dang, Thuy Ha... appear quite regularly in TV dramas, some of them have good family backgrounds, can even be considered well-off, causing mixed reactions from the public. Ms. Pham Thi My Hoa - Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports affirmed that they followed Resolution 68/NQ-CP on a number of policies to support employees and employers facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

According to the list announced by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, there are 99 grade IV officials who are art directors, actors, and artists of 6 theaters under the management of the Department, including: Thang Long Music and Dance, Hanoi Drama, Hanoi Cheo, Hanoi Cai Luong, Hanoi Circus and Variety Arts, and Thang Long Puppetry Theater.

The leader of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports said that this list was reviewed by the grassroots level and appraised by a number of functional agencies. “After the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports received Resolution 68/NQ-CP, it immediately implemented and sent official dispatches to theater units to review the people according to regulations. This list was sent to the Department of Culture and Sports for synthesis, then the Department coordinated with the Hanoi Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to meet and report to the leaders of the Hanoi People's Committee. Through the Department of Planning and Finance, the list was submitted to the Department of Finance for appraisal to disburse the money. Because this is budget money, there is no easy matter... The theaters will receive this money directly from the treasury...", Ms. Pham Thi My Hoa said.

Sharing about some shortcomings in the implementation of this Resolution, the leader of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports said that in reality, there are also some cases where post-production workers in charge of loudspeakers, musicians... have lower incomes than level IV actors and actresses, but they are not eligible for support. The Department has also issued a document proposing the need for policies to support these disadvantaged groups, however, there has been no response yet.

Responding to questions about this purely technical assessment - meaning that artists and actors in category IV will naturally receive support, Ms. Pham Thi My Hoa - Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports affirmed that this was correct.

-During the appraisal process, did the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism have any concerns about cases with good lives, not needing support but still on the list of people receiving support?

Everything is done in accordance with regulations. The theater meets and signs documents to send the list. The units are responsible for whether the cases they send are in accordance with regulations or not. The list sent to the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports is also assessed to meet the criteria of Decree 68 before being submitted to the superior agency.

- If there is a case where the theater receives money but allocates it to other subjects not on the list, how will it be handled?

There will be no such thing. The list is approved and the money will be transferred to the right people. If there is such a thing, it will be a policy abuse.

- The documents are to support the disadvantaged and those in difficulty. The approved list must go through many different agencies. However, there are still cases where people are not yet at the level, or even can be said to not need support, but are still on the support list. Is that mechanical?

This is the rule. Everything is sent from the base. The Department cannot arbitrarily cut anyone or add or subtract anyone to this list. If the theater submits the rules and standards, the list will be made. The Department does not have a job for one person or leave another out. Money is poured into the theaters by the Department of Finance.

Also according to the leader of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, they are currently making a list and asking for opinions from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on subsidies for artists and staff of theaters under the Ministry located in the city, about 302 people.