THE PRIME MINISTER

DECIDES:

Article 1.- To promulgate together with this Decision the Regulation on implementation of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms in local state administrative agencies.

Article 2.- This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in "CONG BAO."

This Decision replaces the Prime Minister's Decision No. 181/2003/QD-TTg of September 4, 2003, promulgating the Regulation on implementation of the "one-stop shop" mechanism in local state administrative agencies.

Article 3.- Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies and presidents of provincial/municipal People's Committees shall implement this Decision.

Prime Minister
NGUYEN TAN DUNG

Article 1.- "One-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms

1. "One-stop shop" mechanism means a mechanism for settlement of affairs of organizations and individuals, including foreign organizations and individuals (below referred to as organizations and individuals), which fall within the responsibilities and competence of a state administrative agency, covering provision of guidance, receipt of papers and dossiers, settlement of affairs and notification of settlement results through the request-receiving and result-notifying section of the state administrative agency.

2. Inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanism means a mechanism for settlement of organizations' and individuals' affairs which fall within the responsibilities and competence of many state administrative agencies of the same level or of different administrative levels, covering provision of guidance, receipt of papers and dossiers, settlement of affairs and notification of settlement results through the request-receiving and result-notifying section of a state administrative agency.

Article 2.- Principles for implementation of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms

1. Ensuring simple, clear and lawful administrative procedures.

2. Publicizing administrative procedures, charge and fee rates, papers, dossiers, and time for settlement of affairs of organizations and individuals.

3. Receiving requests and notifying results at request-receiving and result- notifying sections.

4. Ensuring speedy and convenient settlement of affairs of organizations and individuals.

5. Ensuring coordination among relevant sections and state administrative agencies in the settlement of affairs of organizations and individuals.

Article 3.- Application of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms to agencies

1. The "one-stop shop" mechanism applies to the following agencies:

a/ People's Committee Offices, Services and agencies of equivalent level (below referred to as provincial-level specialized agencies) under People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities (below referred to as provincial-level People's Committees);

b/ People's Committees of rural and urban districts, towns and provincial cities (below referred to as district-level People's Committees);

c/ People's Committees of communes, wards and townships (below referred to as commune-level People's Committees);

d/ Locally-based subordinate agencies of ministries, ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies.

2. The inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanism applies to agencies defined in Clause 1, Article 3 of this Regulation. Provincial-level People's Committee presidents shall, pursuant to the provisions of law and based on their local practical situation, decide on types of affairs to be settled under the inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanism.

3. Provincial-level People's Committee presidents shall report to the Prime Minister for consideration and permission to postpone the implementation of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms in thinly populated island districts where organizations or individuals have few affairs settled by administrative agencies and in exceptional difficulty-stricken communes in deep-lying, remote, mountainous and island areas.

Article 4.- Scope of application of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms

1. The "one-stop shop" mechanism is applied to settlement of affairs directly related to organizations and individuals in accordance with law which fall within the responsibilities and competence of local state administrative agencies defined in Clause 1, Article 3 of this Regulation.

2. The inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanism is applied to settlement of affairs in several domains directly related to organizations and individuals in accordance with law which fall within the responsibilities and competence of different state administrative agencies defined in Clause 1, Article 3 of this Regulation.

Article 5.- Responsibilities of provincial-level People's Committee presidents

1. To issue decisions on the implementation of "one-stop shop" or inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanism in the settlement of affairs directly related to organizations and individuals by agencies defined in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 3 of this Regulation.

2. Pursuant to the provisions of law, to classify affairs to be settled under the "one-stop shop" or inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanism, including those to be settled right on the working day requiring no papers of appointment and those requiring the issuance of papers of appointment.

3. To uniformly prescribe the time for settlement of affairs, guide and direct the collection of charges and fees in accordance with law.

4. To submit to provincial-level People's Councils for decision allowances for cadres and civil servants working in request-receiving and result-notifying sections at all levels after reaching agreement with relevant ministries and agencies; to provide for work-trip allowances for these cadres and civil servants in compliance with the Finance Ministry's regulations; to decide on the rates of charges and fees which provincial-level People's Councils are competent to promulgate.

5. Biannually and annually, to inspect the implementation of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms under their management;

Article 6.- Responsibilities of heads of provincial-level specialized agencies, presidents of district-level People's Committees and presidents of commune-level People's Committees

1. To appoint cadres and civil servants who have proper professional qualifications to work in request-receiving and result-notifying sections.

2. To promulgate regulations on the process of receipt, transfer, processing, submission for signing, and return of dossiers to request-receiving and result-notifying sections; responsibilities of relevant sections and agencies in the implementation of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms and responsibilities of cadres and civil servants working in request-receiving and result-notifying sections.

3. To publicly post up regulations, administrative procedures, papers, dossiers, charge and fee rates, and time for settlement of affairs at request-receiving and result- notifying sections.

4. To provide cadres and civil servants directly working in request-receiving and result-notifying sections with training in professional skills and ways of communication with organizations and individuals in the course of settlement of affairs.

5. To inform organizations and individuals of the operation of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms in local state administrative agencies.

Article 7.- Responsibilities of ministries, ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies

1. To promulgate regulations on the competence and responsibilities of People's Committees at all levels to settle affairs directly related to organizations and individuals; to review and simplify administrative procedures within their state management responsibility.

2. To direct locally-based subordinate agencies in uniformly implementing "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms according to the regulations of provincial-level People's Committee presidents.

Article 8.- Location of a request-receiving and result-notifying section

1. For the "one-stop shop" mechanism:

a/ The request-receiving and result-notifying section of a provincial-level specialized agency is located at, and subject to comprehensive management of, the office of that agency; particularly for the Office of a provincial-level People's Committee, the request-receiving and result-notifying section is located at, and subject to comprehensive management of, the Administrative Affairs-Organization Division;

b/ The request-receiving and result-notifying section of a district-level People's Committee is located at, and subject to comprehensive management of, the Office of the district-level People's Council and People's Committee;

c/ The request-receiving and result-notifying section of a commune-level People's Committee is located at the head office of the commune-level People's Committee and managed by the commune-level People's Committee president.

2. For the inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanism:

a/ For the inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanism involving different state administrative agencies of the same level: The provincial-level People's Committee president shall, pursuant to the provisions of law and based on the local practical situation, decide on the sole body being the request-receiving and result-notifying section of any of relevant state administrative agencies to be in charge of provision of guidance, receipt of papers and dossiers, settlement of affairs and notification of results;

b/ For the inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanism involving state administrative agencies at different levels: The provincial-level People's Committee president shall define the responsibilities of state administrative agencies at different levels and existing request-receiving and result-notifying sections for settling organizations' or individuals' affairs related to the competence and responsibilities of state administrative agencies.

Article 9.- Cadres and civil servants working in request-receiving and result- notifying sections

1. Cadres and civil servants working in the request-receiving and result- notifying section of a provincial-level specialized agency are subject to comprehensive management of the Office of that agency; particularly for the Office of a provincial-level People's Committee, the request-receiving and result-notifying section is subject to comprehensive management of the Administrative Affairs-Organization Division.

2. Cadres and civil servants working in the request-receiving and result- notifying section of a district-level People's Committee are subject to comprehensive management of the Office of the district-level People's Council and People's Committee.

3. Cadres and civil servants working in the request-receiving and result- notifying section of a commune-level People's Committee who hold the titles defined in Clause 2, Article 2 of the Government's Decree No. 114/2003/ND-CP of October 10, 2003, providing for commune, ward and township cadres and civil servants, are subject to comprehensive management of the commune-level People's Committee president.

Article 10.- Operation of a request-receiving and result-notifying section under the "one-stop shop" mechanism

1. Organizations and individuals that request settlement of their affairs shall contact and submit dossiers to the request-receiving and result-notifying section.

2. Cadres and civil servants working in the request-receiving and result- notifying section shall consider dossiers of organizations and individuals, specifically:

a/ If organizations' or individuals' requests fall beyond their settling competence, they shall instruct these organizations or individuals to file their requests with a competent agency for settlement;

b/ If dossiers are improper or incomplete, they shall provide specific and full guidance for organizations or individuals to supplement or complete the dossiers;

c/ For affairs which are required to be settled right on the working day without requiring a paper of appointment, they shall receive the dossiers and settle the affairs immediately, then submit the dossiers to competent leaders for signing, notify settlement results to organizations or individuals, and collect charges and fees, if any, according to law;

d/ For affairs which, as prescribed, may be settled with the issuance of papers of appointment, they shall receive dossiers and issue dossier receipt papers, make an appointment date of notifying settlement results, assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant functional sections in, processing the dossiers, then submit them to competent leaders for signing, notify settlement results to organizations or individuals, and collect charges and fees, if any, according to law.

Article 11.- Operation of a request-receiving and result-notifying section under the inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanism

1. Organizations or individuals that request settlement of their affairs under the inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanism shall contact and submit dossiers to the request-receiving and result-notifying section of a state administrative agency according to regulations.

2. Cadres and civil servants working in the request-receiving and result- notifying section shall consider dossiers of organizations and individuals, specifically:

a/ If organizations' or individuals' requests fall beyond their settling competence, they shall instruct these organizations or individuals to file their requests with a competent agency for settlement;

b/ If dossiers are improper or incomplete, they shall provide specific and full guidance for organizations or individuals to supplement or complete the dossiers.

3. The request-receiving and result-notifying section shall, based on the nature of problems, consider and settle them according to the following process:

a/ Submitting the affairs to responsible leaders for settlement according to their competence;

b/ Directly contacting relevant agencies in processing the dossiers. Relevant agencies shall receive the dossiers and settle the affairs according to their competence and within the set time limit;

c/ Receiving settlement results and notify them to organizations or individuals, and collect charges and fees according to law.

Article 12.- Working offices and equipment of request-receiving and result- notifying sections

Working offices and equipment of request-receiving and result-notifying sections at all levels shall be arranged according to the Prime Minister's Decision No. 170/2006/QD-TTg of July 18, 2006, promulgating the Regulation on criteria and norms of equipment and working facilities of agencies and state cadres, civil servants and employees, specifically:

1. The area of the working office of a request-receiving and result-notifying section:

a/ For provincial-level professional agencies: at least 40 m2;

b/ For district-level People's Committees: at least 80 m2;

c/ For commune-level People's Committees: at least 40 m2;

d/ A local state administrative agency shall reserve 50% of the total area of the working office of a request-receiving and result-notifying section for use as the waiting room for organizations and individuals;

e/ If the area of the existing head office of a local state administrative agency fails to meet the set requirements, the local state administrative agency may reserve a smaller area for the request-receiving and result-notifying section and the waiting room for organizations and individuals, but must comply with the above requirement by December 31, 2008.

2. Equipment of a request-receiving and result-notifying section

Based on the work characteristics of agencies at each level, the provincial-level People's Committee president shall prescribe equipment for the request-receiving and result-notifying section, including at least computer, fax machine, printer, fixed telephone, chair, desk, drinking water, fan or air conditioner and other equipment to meet working requirements; encourage local state administrative agencies at all levels to apply information technology to the receipt of requests and the settlement of affairs of organizations and individuals.

3. Based on the practical situation of their localities or agencies, presidents of People's Committees or heads of state administrative agencies at all levels shall supply uniforms for cadres and civil servants working in request-receiving and result- notifying sections, consider and arrange necessary equipment in order to provide subsidized services to organizations and individuals that wish to have their documents photocopied or typewritten, their forms or dossiers completed or make phone calls.

Article 13.- Funds for implementation of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms

Funds for the implementation of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms are included in annual state budget estimates assigned by competent authorities according to the current state budget decentralization and come from other sources as provided for by law.

Article 14.- Commendation and discipline

1. Implementation of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms, ensuring quantitative, qualitative and temporal requirements as prescribed, serves as a basis for assessment of the performance of annual tasks by heads of state administrative agencies at all levels and of cadres and civil servants.

2. Presidents of People's Committees at all levels, heads of state administrative agencies, cadres and civil servants who well perform the tasks in the implementation of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms may be considered and rewarded on an annual basis according to the law on emulation and commendation. Cadres and civil servants who show good capabilities in the implementation of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms may be considered for promotion under their agencies' personnel plannings.

3. Agencies, organizations or individuals that commit acts of violating the regulations on, or obstructing the implementation of, "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms shall be regarded as failing to fulfill their annual tasks and shall, depending on the severity of their violations, be considered and handled according to law.

Article 15.- Presidents of provincial/municipal People's Committees shall direct and organize the implementation of this Regulation and annually review, assess and report implementation results to the Ministry of Home Affairs for synthesis and reporting to the Prime Minister.

Article 16.- The Minister of Home Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant ministries, ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies in, monitoring and examining the implementation of "one-stop shop" and inter-agency "one-stop shop" mechanisms in accordance with this Regulation.