Ho Chi Minh City orders comprehensive review of improper support payments under Decree 178

Ho Chi Minh City authorities have ordered a comprehensive review of support payments made to officials and public employees under Decree 178/2024 after the State Audit identified shortcomings.

Departments, public service units, wards, communes and special administrative areas must examine cases handled under Decree 178/2024 and Decree 67/2025, along with guidance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the city government and its Department of Home Affairs. The directive also responds to a request from the ministry.

Agencies must report every error or violation identified by the State Audit, as well as problems found through their own reviews. Their reports must state the nature of each error, the legal and factual grounds for approval and payment, the amounts already paid, any sum expected to be recovered or adjusted, the causes, and the responsibility of relevant organizations and individuals. They must also describe corrective action and accountability measures. The deadline is Sept. 10.

The city said the audit report identified five main shortcomings in the handling of policies linked to administrative streamlining. These included failing to issue assessment criteria, or issuing them without consulting the relevant party and government leadership; approving early retirement or resignation for people whose records showed strong performance for the previous three years; and approving benefits for cases that did not clearly meet the rules. Other concerns involved benefits for management officials in reorganized units despite no excess over the permitted number, and cases involving health-related leave where supporting documents were incomplete.

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The report must clearly state the content of the errors, the legal grounds, the factual grounds and the reasons for approval and payment; the amount approved and paid; the amount expected to be recovered or adjusted; the causes; the responsibility of the relevant organizations and individuals; and the results of remediation and accountability measures