The Ministry of Finance is drafting a Circular amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 40/2017/TT-BTC dated April 28, 2017 of the Minister of Finance regulating the business trip fee regime and conference regime of state agencies, public service units, political organizations, socio-political organizations, and associations using funds supported by the state budget.

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The business trip allowance regime is applied to state agencies, public service units, political organizations, socio-political organizations, and associations using funds supported by the state budget. Photo: Hoang Ha

One of the notable points in the draft being consulted is that the Ministry of Finance proposes to amend and supplement the regulations on "Payment for accommodation rental at the place of work" (Article 7) with 2 forms of payment.

One is payment in lump sum.

According to the draft, payment for accommodation at work destinations is based on a fixed rate as follows: Leaders at the ministerial, deputy ministerial level and equivalent leadership positions have a fixed rate of 1.2 million VND/day/person (current fixed rate is 1 million VND), regardless of the work destination.

For the remaining cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers, if going on business trips to districts and cities under centrally run cities and cities that are class I urban areas of the province, the allowance is 550,000 VND/day/person (currently 450,000 VND); Going on business trips to districts and towns under centrally run cities, in the remaining towns and cities of the province, the allowance is 400,000 VND/day/person (currently 350,000 VND); Going on business trips to the remaining regions, the allowance is 350,000 VND/day/person (currently 300,000 VND).

Second, payment is made according to the actual room rental price (with invoices and legal documents as prescribed by law) approved by the head of the agency or unit.

Ministerial-level leaders and equivalent positions are paid a room rental rate of 3 million VND/day/room (currently 2.5 million VND) according to the standard of 1 person/room, regardless of the place of work.

For business trips to districts and cities under centrally-run cities and cities that are class I urban areas of provinces: Deputy Ministers and equivalent leadership positions are paid a room rental price of 1.5 million VND/day/room (currently 1.2 million VND) according to the standard of 1 person/room; The remaining subjects are paid a room rental price of 1.2 million VND/day/room (currently 1 million VND) according to the standard of 2 people/room.

For business trips to the remaining regions, deputy ministers and equivalent leadership positions are paid a room rental rate of 1.3 million VND/day/room (currently 1.1 million VND) according to the standard of 1 person/room; The remaining subjects are paid 900,000 VND/day/room (currently 700,000 VND) according to the standard of 2 people/room.

Also according to the proposal of the Ministry of Finance, the cost of meals and other expenses of people on business trips will be paid by the agency or unit sending them on business trips, calculated from the date they start the business trip until they return to the agency or unit at the end of the business trip; the expense level is 250,000 VND/day.

Cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers on the mainland who are sent on business trips to sea and islands are entitled to 300,000 VND/person/day of actual work at sea and islands (applied to both working days at sea and islands and days of travel to and from sea and islands).

In case a number of specific industries have been prescribed by competent authorities regarding the regime when going on business trips at sea or on islands, the highest prescribed regime can be selected to pay for business travelers.