VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government Inspectorate have issued a joint circular on the level of rewards for those who denounce corruption. The highest award is up to VND3.4 billion ($150,000).

The new regulations will take effect from May 1, 2015.

According to this circular, compiled by the Government Inspectorate, there are three forms of reward for corruption whistle-blowers: the Medal of Courage; the Certificate of Merit of the Prime Minister; the Certificates of Merit of the ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, the National Assembly Office, the Office of the President, the Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuracy, the State Audit Agency, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and the People's Committees of provinces and cities.

Specifically, those who detect and prevent corrupt acts worth from VND300 million ($15,000) and up, those who sacrifice their life or are injured, with the injury rate of 61% upward due to denunciation of acts of corruption, will be awarded the Medal of Courage.

Those who denounce and prevent acts of corruption that help the state recover from VND200 million to VND500 million, those who suffer injury or damage to health with the injury rate from 31% to less than 61% ,will be awarded the Certificate of Merit of the Prime Minister.

The certificates of merit from ministries, provinces and central organizations will be presented to individuals who detect and prevent corruption acts, help the state recover from VND20 million to VND200 million, and suffer injury or damage health with the injury rate from 11% to 31%.

These people will be also rewarded in cash, up to VND3.4 billion ($150,000), if their denouncement helps recover assets worth over 600 times of the basic salary.

This is the highest-ever reward for anti-corruption that has been set in Vietnam.

Earlier, the highest reward was proposed at VND5 billion ($250,000).

According to officials of the Government Inspectorate, the change of the maximum reward from VND5 billion to VND3.4 billion is to match reality and base salary. They also said that this is a very positive incentive that some countries such as the US, South Korea and other countries have applied.

According to a survey of the Transparency International, up to 60% of Vietnamese believe that ordinary people can create change in the fight against corruption.

However, compared to other countries surveyed in Southeast Asia, only 38% of Vietnam surveyed are willing to denounce corruption.

For those who are willing to denounce, the state agency seems to be the first place that people go. Forty percent of respondents chose to denounce corruption with government agencies or hotlines. Thirty-six percent said they would denounce directly to the agency concerned and 15% chose to denounce corruption through the media.

Tran Cham