Illustrative Image. — vov.vn

HÀ NỘI — The revised draft Law on Anti-Corruption proposes removing annual declarations for public employees and replacing it with an initial declaration and supplementary declaration, Nguyễn Văn Thanh, Deputy Chief Inspector of the Government Inspectorate said.

The draft law aims to account for public employees’ properties and income when hiring them or promoting them. "We want people public employees to be transparent," he said at a conference on Thursday where lawyers discussed the draft.

“When someone becomes a public employee, they have to declare the value of their properties and incomes,” he said.

According to Thanh, the draft law has a separate chapter with many new, substantial provisions on the issue.

Anyone appointed for the first time as a public employee; civil servants holding managerial posts; cadres and public employees who are elected, appointed, re-appointed or assigned to positions in State agencies, political organisations, socio-political organisations, socio-politico-professional organisations and other organisations that operate with state budget funds, will have to declare their property and income.

Supplementary declarations will be required for those who have made initial declarations and wish to be elected, appointed, re-appointed or assigned to act as representatives of state capital at enterprises and for persons whose property and income increases by VNĐ200million (US$8,900) or more.

“We do not intend to prevent public servants from getting wealthier but the State must know whether their wealth is legal or not,” he said.

The draft extends also mentions the non-state sector, requiring persons working at public companies, credit institutions and investment funds to declare their property and income.

A law expert, Professor Nguyễn Đăng Dung said that requiring declarations from the non-state sector was inappropriate, adding that only those who use State capital and property should make declarations.

Đỗ Gia Thư, former head of Legal Department of the State Inspectorate, said property declarations should be conducted at the employees’ residence instead of at their offices.

Under the current law, more than one million cadres and public servants in Việt Nam must declare their property and income annually.

Only 17 cases of fraud in property declarations have been detected since the Anti-Corruption Law was enacted in 2006, according to the Government Inspectorate. — VNS