Vietnam: Amending the principle of sending delegations of officials and public employees abroad from February 10, 2020

According to Clause 2 Article 1 of Circular No. 23/2019/TT-BGDDT of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam amending and supplementing Circular No. 17/2014/TT-BGDDT, heads of units, directors of projects, schemes, programs affiliated to the Ministry of Education and Training; heads of affiliated entities of the Ministry of Education and Training; chairpersons of university council, chairpersons of school council of higher education institutions affiliated to the Ministry of Education and Training; heads of wholly state-owned enterprises affiliated to the Ministry of Education and Training may join outbound delegations up to twice a year in a plan in line with their expertise, except for joining entourages as required by the superior authorities, perform international cooperation or negotiation duties, and otherwise so permitted by the Minister of Education and Training; no more than 01 delegation shall be sent in the same time, to the same place, and in the same event upon the invitation of a single partner.

It can be seen that Circular No. 23/2019/TT-BGDDT has more detailed regulations on officials, public employees participating in delegations that are sent abroad, the number of times to participate is also more loosely regulated "no more than 02 (two) times per year" (in case of participating in an accompanying group, etc., the number of times is allowed by the Ministry of Education and Training). Moreover, this Circular also emphasizes the case of not sending more than 01 delegation on a business trip at the same time, etc. In particular, each participation no longer has a working day limit as before.

Besides, Circular No. 23/2019/TT-BGDDT also supplements officials, employees who are sent on short-term business and training trips abroad for a period of less than 180 days (according to the Regulation on management of overseas business trips of officials and public employees issued together with Circular No. 17/2014/TT-BGDDT), which are “officials or public employees who are the heads of wholly state-owned enterprises affiliated to the Ministry of Education and Training”.

View relevant provisions at Circular No. 23/2019/TT-BGDDT of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, effective from February 10, 2020.

Thu Ba

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