Vietnam’s new draft decree targets wastefulness with annual event

The proposal follows the passage of the Law on Thrift Practice and Waste Prevention, which will take effect on July 1, and designates May 31 each year as a day promoting savings and wastefulness prevention practices.

Under the draft decree, activities marking the day must be practical, efficient, and cost-conscious, with priority given to implementation through digital platforms and electronic environments.

The proposal calls for public campaigns to promote the role of thrift and wastefulness prevention culture in state management and social life, along with dissemination of related laws and policies.

Authorities would also organize competitions and movements to collect and promote initiatives on reducing wastefulness in public administration, business operations, and consumer activities, while recognizing individuals and organizations with notable achievements in waste reduction efforts.

The activities could be conducted through the mass media, official websites, digital platforms, and social networks, according to the draft.

The Ministry of Finance would issue annual nationwide guidance on implementation, while ministries, state agencies, and local governments would organize activities within their respective jurisdictions.

Funding for the activities would come from regular state budget expenditures under existing budget management rules, although the draft also encourages mobilization of lawful non-budget funding sources.

Separately, the draft proposes establishing a national database on thrift and wastefulness prevention efforts under the management of the Ministry of Finance, to be used uniformly from the central government to local authorities.

The database would include information on national wastefulness prevention strategies, implementation plans, programs, reports, and other related data, according to the draft.