Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism responds to the delay in payment of State Prize money to many artists

In response to the information that many authors have not received the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize for Literature and Arts after 4 months of being honored, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that, implementing the direction in the Official Dispatch dated September 26, 2023 of the Government Office on the payment of bonuses, on September 27, Deputy Minister Trinh Thi Thuy signed Official Dispatch No. 4062/BVHTTDL-KHTC, sending the Ministry of Finance a list of individuals receiving bonuses along with the names of units, agencies and additional budget estimates for each corresponding unit and agency according to the current State budget decentralization.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the work of considering and awarding the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize for Literature and Arts is carried out in accordance with Decree No. 90/2014/ND-CP of the Government; Decree No. 133/2018/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 90.

Regarding the payment of bonuses to honored authors, from the very beginning, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proactively implemented coordination steps in accordance with the correct procedures; sent official dispatches to report to competent authorities and relevant ministries and branches to promptly carry out procedures for paying bonuses to authors after being honored.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism responded to the delay in payment of State Prize money to many artists.

Previously, on April 6, 2023, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Official Dispatch No. 1322/BVHTTDL-KHTC to the Ministry of Finance regarding additional bonus funds.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has reviewed the authors and co-authors who received the prize money. The award level and payment are based on Clause 2, Article 6 and Point c, Clause 2, Article 7 of Decree No. 90/2014/ND-CP dated September 29, 2014 of the Government on the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize for Literature and Arts.

The current reward level for the Ho Chi Minh Prize is 270 times the basic salary, and for the State Prize is 170 times. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has reviewed and compiled the budget and proposed the Ministry of Finance to consider and supplement the 2023 budget for the reward for the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize.

On June 22, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Official Dispatch No. 2488/BVHTTDL-KHTC to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha reporting on the prize money for consideration of the Award.

The document stated that, based on Decree No. 90/2014/ND-CP of the Government: "The "Ho Chi Minh Prize" and "State Prize" for literature and arts are arranged in the budget of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies under the Government, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities according to the provisions of law", the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent a document requesting the Ministry of Finance to supplement the State Budget estimate for 2023 to pay bonuses to authors who were awarded or posthumously awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize for Literature and Arts (for dossiers submitted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to the State Council).

The payment of bonuses to authors and co-authors who are awarded or posthumously awarded the remaining Awards is the responsibility of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-run city where the dossier is submitted to the State Council for consideration of awarding the Ho Chi Minh Award and the State Award for Literature and Arts.

However, according to the Ministry of Finance, the dossier attached with the list of authors receiving awards from specific Literature and Arts Associations such as the Musicians' Association, the Cinema Association, and the Vietnam Stage Artists' Association does not include individuals or groups under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. This does not ensure the provisions of Decree No. 91/2017 detailing a number of articles on the Law on Emulation and Commendation.

The Ministry of Finance also stated in the Government report: Collectives and individuals belonging to ministries, departments, branches, central organizations, provinces and centrally-run cities that are awarded by the Prime Minister or the President, the ministries, departments, branches, provinces and central-run organizations are responsible for paying the award from the state budget of their level and accounting for the expenditure as a separate item.

Therefore, the Ministry of Finance requests the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to supplement the report with the list of names of individuals receiving awards, along with the names of corresponding units and agencies according to the current state budget decentralization (clearly distinguishing between central and local budget sources), and send it to the Ministry of Finance to synthesize and report to competent authorities to supplement funding according to regulations.

On September 26, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism received Official Dispatch No. 7376/VPCP-KTTH (sent to the Minister of Finance and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) regarding the payment of bonuses. The dispatch conveyed the opinion of Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, requesting the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to study and absorb the opinions of the Ministry of Finance in previous documents on the payment of bonuses for the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize for Literature and Arts; on that basis, complete the proposal to send to the Ministry of Finance, before September 30, 2023.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai also requested the Ministry of Finance to review, consider and propose the arrangement of funds to pay the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize for Literature and Arts, ensuring compliance with current legal regulations; report to competent authorities before October 5, 2023.

Implementing the direction in Official Dispatch 7376, on September 27, Deputy Minister Trinh Thi Thuy signed Official Dispatch No. 4062/BVHTTDL-KHTC, stating that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has studied, accepted the opinions of the Ministry of Finance and completed according to the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai.

At the same time, in the Official Dispatch, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent a list of individuals receiving bonuses along with the names of units, agencies and additional budget estimates for each corresponding unit and agency according to the current State budget decentralization.

Thus, the work of considering and awarding the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize for Literature and Arts has been carried out in accordance with the order and procedures prescribed in Decree No. 90/2014/ND-CP of the Government; Decree No. 133/2018/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 90 and related legal documents.

However, taking note of the reality and feedback from artists and public opinion in recent days, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has continued to urgently coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, reporting to competent authorities on related matters to speed up progress, ensuring the fastest payment of bonuses.

This morning, September 28, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung directly reported to the Prime Minister about these contents.

Accordingly, the Prime Minister directed that related administrative procedures should be urgently shortened and submitted to the Government for awarding rewards to authors and co-authors receiving the Ho Chi Minh Prize and State Prize as soon as possible.

Minister Nguyen Van Hung also said that he had worked with the Minister of Finance and agreed to coordinate to handle related issues as soon as possible, ensuring the payment of the Prize money quickly and promptly.

The writer is upset because he has not received the State Prize bonus for 4 months.

Previously, on the morning of May 19, 2023, the State Prize and Ho Chi Minh Prize Awarding Ceremony took place at the Opera House, Hanoi. At the ceremony, 128 authors and co-authors were awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize for Literature and Arts; of which 16 authors and co-authors were awarded or posthumously awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize...

Writer Nguyen Van Tho received the State Prize for Literature and Arts this time with the work Quyen. His younger brother, director - People's Artist Nguyen Thuoc, received the State Prize for Literature and Arts for the documentary film series: Not just a brand; Cold land; Silent green grass .

However, more than 4 months have passed, but the two brothers and many artists have not yet received the State Prize and Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts.

According to writer Nguyen Van Tho, in previous seasons of awarding the State Prize and the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts, artists received their bonuses within just one month. There has never been a precedent for awarding bonuses lasting more than four months like this time.

Writer Nguyen Van Tho believes that the country is industrializing culture, the role of artists is at the center of this industrial revolution, so awards for artists should be focused on and given attention.

Kim Nhung (VOV.VN)

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