Consider redirecting funds to ineffective policies

On the morning of May 25, the National Assembly discussed in the hall the report of the supervisory delegation on "the implementation of Resolution No. 43/2022/QH15 dated January 11, 2022 of the National Assembly on fiscal and monetary policies to support the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program and the National Assembly's resolutions on a number of important national projects until the end of 2023".

Overcoming the situation of avoidance, shirking, and fear of responsibility of a part of cadres

Participating in the discussion, delegates shared the view that the issuance of Resolution No. 43/2022/QH15 was very timely and in line with the people's wishes, demonstrating that the National Assembly always accompanies the Government in solving all issues raised by reality for the goal of national development and for the sake of national security and people's livelihood.

Delegates attending the meeting. (Photo: DUY LINH)

The policies set forth in the Resolution are strategic, promoting socio-economic development, supplementing large resources from the State budget and other mobilized capital sources to implement social security policies, removing difficulties for businesses and people, and reviving both supply and demand of the economy.

Besides the positive results, delegates also agreed that the issuance and implementation of the Resolution still had some shortcomings and limitations as stated in the monitoring report...

According to delegate Nguyen Huu Thong (Binh Thuan delegation), the biggest limitation is the failure to implement projects and incentive packages on time and fully, causing the set goals to not be achieved as expected... In particular, the main reason is the human factor, because people are the subjects who propose and issue policies, and it is also people who implement and deploy policies in reality. People are the decisive factor in whether a policy is successful or not.

"Currently, there is a situation of shirking responsibility, fear of making mistakes, and fear of responsibility among a number of cadres, civil servants, and public employees in performing public duties, leading to ineffective work handling," said delegate Thong, clarifying that this situation has been mentioned many times but has not yet changed.

Delegate Nguyen Huu Thong (Binh Thuan delegation) joins the discussion. (Photo: DUY LINH)

“Is it that we do not have a mechanism to handle and evaluate civil servants or a mechanism to protect cadres who dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility for the common good? In my opinion, that is not the case. We have had many documents from the Party and the Government on evaluating cadres, civil servants, and public employees, and we have Conclusion 14 of the Central Committee, Decree 73 of the Government on encouraging cadres to dare to do, dare to take responsibility for the common good, so what is the cause?”, the delegate of Binh Thuan delegation wondered.

National Assembly delegates and the Government need to make a fundamental assessment, find the right cause and have truly effective solutions, including surveying and re-evaluating the implementation of Decree 73 since its promulgation to date, which agencies, units and localities have applied and brought about effectiveness, so that they can be replicated. If after surveying and evaluating, there are still problems in localities and units that have not applied it, then there needs to be effective solutions to overcome the above situation.

Sharing the same view, delegate Nguyen Anh Tri (Hanoi delegation) said that among the causes pointed out by the Supervisory Delegation's report, there is a group of very worrying subjective causes, which is the situation of shirking, avoiding, and fearing responsibility of a number of cadres, civil servants, and public employees in performing public duties.

“To prevent the epidemic of shirking and fearing responsibility from continuing to exist, all levels and sectors need to point out and discipline those who shirk, shirk, and fear responsibility; at the same time, promptly commend and reward individuals who dare to do and dare to take responsibility,” the delegate suggested.

Agree to extend the implementation period of Resolution 43/2022/QH15 of the National Assembly

Speaking at the meeting hall, delegate Thach Phuoc Binh (Tra Vinh delegation) affirmed that Resolution No. 43/2022/QH15 was issued very quickly and very early, clearly demonstrating the spirit of "adapting to all changes" of the National Assembly.

However, some legal documents are still limited in terms of clarity, overlap and feasibility, leading to many ministries, branches and localities having to organize consultations, instructions and causing unnecessary additional costs (time, finance) for businesses; not creating a new enough approach and motivation to improve the business environment and enhance competitiveness...

Delegate Thach Phuoc Binh (Tra Vinh delegation). (Photo: DUY LINH)

Therefore, delegate Binh proposed that the National Assembly and the Government consider the actual situation to transfer capital resources from ineffective policies to policies that society and people need, in order to promote the effectiveness of support policies.

Along with that, it is recommended that the Government consider increasing capital sources for localities to implement loan programs to support employment, maintain and expand employment; continue to extend the interest rate support period for policy credit programs under Decree 36/2022/ND-CP and tax reduction policies for people and businesses. At the same time, promptly issue a Decree guiding the implementation of the Law on Bidding, effective from January 1, 2024, to remove difficulties for people and businesses.

Notably, delegates recommended that the National Assembly, the National Assembly Standing Committee, and the Government study further extending the implementation period of Resolution 43/2022/QH15 or study the possibility of building a new Economic Recovery Program in the 2024-2025 period to continue reviewing and supporting the subjects, promptly removing difficulties, and contributing to the socio-economic development of localities.

Delegate Tran Quoc Tuan (Tra Vinh delegation) also agreed with the extension of the implementation period of Resolution 43 as drafted to the National Assembly, striving to complete the disbursement of the capital of the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program allocated according to the progress required in the Resolution of the 6th Session of the National Assembly by December 31, 2024 to put completed projects into use, promoting the effectiveness of capital investment.

Proposal to continue extending VAT reduction policy

Appreciating the effectiveness of the 2% VAT reduction policy, delegate Mai Van Hai (Thanh Hoa delegation) suggested that the National Assembly consider allowing the extension of its implementation for a suitable period of time. At the same time, consider continuing to expand the application of a number of specific policy mechanisms not only for important national projects and highways, but also for other important national and provincial projects.

Delegate Trinh Thi Tu Anh (Lam Dong delegation). (Photo: DUY LINH)

Delegate Trinh Thi Tu Anh (Lam Dong delegation) also said that it is necessary to continue policies to stimulate domestic consumption, consider continuing to reduce some taxes and fees, and support businesses to stimulate demand, because in reality, the reduction of taxes and fees in the past 2 years has almost no impact on total budget revenue.

Delegates highly appreciated the National Assembly's comments on the Law on Value Added Tax (amended) at this 7th Session, and at the same time recommended reviewing the personal income tax policy to stimulate the consumer market and consider family deductions.

Source