HÀ NỘI — Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh on Wednesday issued a decision to establish a disciplinary council to impose penalties on ministry officials who reportedly visited the pagoda during work hours.

The same day, the ministry’s Trade Promotion Agency confirmed to the minister that Bùi Quang Hưng, director of the Export Support Centre, and other officials went to the pagoda on Tuesday morning during work hours, as reported by the local media.

The council will consider the level of disciplinary action of the violators and hold a meeting on February 20, according to the minister’s decision.

Minister Trần Tuấn Anh also asked the Party Committee and leaders of the Trade Promotion Agency to review their responsibilities in managing public servants.

In a related move, Hà Nội Social Insurance confirmed that five officials of its Document Management Division visited Mẫu Temple in northern Hưng Yên Province during work hours, following a Việt Nam Television report on February 7.

The company on Thursday decided to reduce the performance rating of these five employees to the lowest level (level C) for the first quarter of this year, Nguyễn Thị Phương Mai, director of Hà Nội Social Insurance said. Offenders have also been asked to prepare a self-criticism letter and report the incident as a lesson for all employees of Social Insurance.

Phạm Lương Sơn, deputy director of Việt Nam Social Insurance said “Việt Nam Social Insurance’s viewpoint is to follow the Prime Minister’s direction that bans State employees from visiting temples and pagodas and using State-owned cars to visit those places.”

Earlier, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc issued a document requesting ministries and localities to work seriously and avoid post-Tết indulgences following the holiday.

Under the PM’s instruction, public servants are not allowed to attend festivals or visit pagodas during working hours or use public cars for the activity, except when performing their duties, the PM said. They are also banned from holding parties during work hours. — VNS