Vietnam labor minister faces disciplinary action for bidding violations

Vietnam's Central Inspection Commission has proposed disciplining Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung for his involvement in the Advanced International JSC (AIC)-related bidding scam.

In a Friday announcement, the commission said that Dung, also a Party Central Committee member, "committed violations to the point that he must be disciplined".

It also noted that the Party delegation of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) for the 2016-2021 and 2011-2016 tenures violated democratic centralism rules and working regulations, while showing lackluster responsibility and leadership.

"This resulted in some individuals and organizations violating Party regulations and State laws related to vocational training and bidding packages implemented by AIC and the company's ecosystem.

Other violators include Pham Thi Hai Chuyen, a former Party Central Committee member and former minister; former deputy ministers Nguyen Ngoc Phi, Huynh Van Ti, Doan Mau Diep, and Le Quan; head of the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) Truong Anh Dung; and former DVET heads Duong Duc Lan and Nguyen Hong Minh.

The Central Inspection Commission also announced violations related to the People’s Court of Kon Tum province, Phu Yen province, Gia Lai province, Ha Giang province, and the Ministry of Justice.

Over the past two years, AIC has been investigated for bidding violations in units and localities. In January 2024, Nguyen Nhan Chien, former chief of Bac Ninh province's Party Committee, was arrested for accepting bribes in a bidding scam related to AIC.

In December 2023, many AIC leaders and staff members were accused of wrongdoing in a case that occurred at the Vietnam Computer Emergency Response Center (VNCERT) under the Ministry of Information and Communications.

In 2022, the police launched investigations into AIC-related violations occurring at Dong Nai General Hospital, Quang Ninh province's Department of Health, and the Ho Chi Minh City Biotechnology Center.

AIC chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan has been accused of wrongdoings in five cases but is on the run. An international arrest warrant for her was issued, and she was tried in absentia in some cases.