The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) has barred official agencies from issuing business awards until a new regulation is issued by the Government.

Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (photo) made the announcement on Monday.

She said agencies under the ministry would not be allowed to sponsor or co-organise business awards or participate in their judging unless authorised by the ministry.

The move follows the presentation of a “Top 100 Products for Community Health 2009″ award to Taiwanese monosodium-glutamate producer Vedan last month by the Ministry of Science and Technology, in co-operation with the Quality and Trademark Development Centre.

Last year, Vedan was fined for dumping more than 5,000cu.m of untreated toxic waste daily for more than 15 years into Thi Vai River through concealed underground pipes.

Three senior of Ministry of Science and Technology officials and one from the Ministry of Health were reprimanded over the decision.

The award was also revoked.

Vu Nhu Van, deputy head of the MoLISA’s Labour Safety Department, said the ministry’s 2009 Labour Safety Arward, which was planned to be presented in March next year, had also been suspended.

“The award, formerly the Labour Safety Gold Cup founded in 2007, has had 57 winners. It was upgraded to a Labour Safety Award last year and presented to 124 enterprises,” Van said.

“We will postpone the award as directed by the minister,” he said.

Tighter management

According to Dao Trong Nhan, head of the General Research Department under the Central Commission for Emulation and Rewards, a draft regulation on management and organisation of business awards had been submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

Nhan said the regulation would clearly define standards for awards’ entrants.

According to Nhan, the regulation would prohibit organisers from charging fees for participating in business awards.

“Once the regulation is issued, procedures for awarding prizes and titles will be put in order,” he said. “Mistakes, like the award given to Vedan, will hopefully not occur again.”

The former deputy chairwoman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pham Chi Lan, said: “Associations will no longer be able to consider such activities as a source of revenue. More importantly, enterprises should not be interested in winning meaningless awards.”

VietNamNet/VNS