The General Department of Customs determined to strictly handle and not defend customs officers who commit violations

Operations at Customs Branch of North Thang Long Industrial Park. Photo: N.Linh

Automation to prevent violations

In the context of more than 11,000 customs officials performing the task of state management of customs across the country every day and every hour, especially customs officers working at the border gates and customs checkpoints, who regularly contact with money and goods, the corruption, harassment and association for smuggling, commercial fraud and tax evasion are potential.

Therefore, the General Department of Customs has determined that the fight against corruption, harassment and negativity associated with the development of an integrity and professional force is the most important political task.

The General Department of Customs has proactively applied comprehensive electronic customs to publicize and customs process for import and export goods, reducing direct contact between customs officers and enterprises such as: the Automated Customs Clearance System (VNACCS / VCIS) to automatically handle customs procedures nationwide; the Standing Agency of the National Steering Committee on ASEAN Single Window, National Single Window and trade facilitation to meet the objectives of Government’s Resolution 19-2018 / NQ-CP and the Government action plan (issued in Decision No. 1254 / QD-TTg dated September 26, 2018); Vietnam Automated System for Seaport Custom Management (VASSCM) to connect and exchange exchanged information with ports, airports, warehouses operators and areas under customs supervision; electronic tax payment (E-payment) to connect Customs, State Treasury and commercial banks. The physical inspection of import and export goods is carried out manually by customs officers or by machines, equipment and other measures, including the non-invasive inspection method

In particular, the General Department of Customs has proactively developed and completed clear, transparent and transparent policies and operational process to facilitate enterprises and avoid negativity and harassment by customs officers. All current, revised and new regulations on customs operations are posted and updated on the website at the headquarters of the General Department, departments, branches along with information: hotline (19009299), email address, comment box to promptly receive comments about troublesome, harassing and negative acts of customs officers.

Establishing a central monitoring system at the General Department level and some Customs Departments in key provinces, cities and areas to supervise, monitor and handle customs officers on duty performance.

Strengthening inspection of public duty performance

According to the press and the people, there were some signs of annoying and harassing behavior of customs officials in the duty performance, the General Department of Customs, in coordination with the competent forces to directly inspect or promptly direct local customs units to investigate and clarify these cases. In addition to the rotation, change of position and work as prescribed, customs officers who are reflected as negativity and harassment shall be rotated and seriously handled.

In the context of high requirements on building and managing the contingent of officials and employees in the customs sector and performing the task of anti-corruption, the General Department of Customs issued Decision No. 2799 / QD-TCHQ dated September 26, 2018 stipulating inspection of public duty performance and disciplinary against customs officers and employees, which covers all violations of customs officers when performing their duties, thereby, preventing, raising awareness, responsibility and handling violations and disciplining customs officers.

At the same time, the General Department of Customs has issued Decision No. 489 / QD-TCHQ dated March 15, 2019 approving and promulgating the Scheme on Customs Integrity for the 2019-2020 period. The scheme has provided for specific solutions for Customs Integrity to be implemented in 2019-2020.

In particular, the inspection of public duty performance to prevent and detect and handle violations by customs officers has been strengthened. In 2018, the whole Customs sector conducted more than 260 internal inspections, and in the first nine months of 2019, the sector conducted more than 130 ones.

In addition, the General Department of Customs strictly enforces the policy of rotation, change and mobilization of customs officers and employees according to Decision 2650 / QD-BTC dated October 15, 2014 of the Minister of Finance to avoid group interest and negative acts, at the same time meet the requirements of training and retraining officers and promptly arranging officers at task requirements