Many college graduates with mediocre academic results were given jobs after offering huge bribes while better candidates for the positions were rejected, Cuong said.

Officials at government agencies also employed the illegal practice to obtain higher education titles and promotions based on that, he said.

“Some people even consider promotion bribery a super-lucrative investment,” Cuong said, questioning the responsibility of the Minister of Home Affairs.

Commenting on the issue, Minister Tuan said there was in fact an increase in bribery for jobs and promotions, but it would be very difficult to end the practice, requiring “collaboration of the whole system.”

“It’s difficult because people who offer bribes don’t report to the authorities… Meanwhile, the officials given the bribes only say good words about those offering bribers to promote them.”

Representative Nguyen Huu Phuoc of Ben Tre Province disagreed with the argument, saying it’s impossible to ask those offering bribes to report their own illegal acts to the government.

“The question is how come the practice has been allowed to exist for a long time,” Phuoc said.

Minister Tuan admitted that some government agencies did not follow the strict procedures in appointment and promotion, letting many people to take advantage of the loopholes.

He promised to intensify supervision to make sure all agencies abide by the rules.

The Ministry of Home Affairs also plans to change the promotion process by allowing many candidates to run for one position by taking examinations, he said.

Source: Thanh Nien, Tuoi Tre