Contractors told to pay fines

HCM City Department of Transport has asked more than 400 contractors to pay fines owing for public works violations since March 2008.

“A total of 406 contractors have not responded to 2,457 court decisions involving total fines of VND7.75 billion (US$408,300),” said chief inspector of the department Le Vinh Phat.

Those most in debt were the contractors who carried out environmental sanitation projects along Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal and Dong Tay Highway.

Typically, Japan’s TOA company has not paid 42 fines owing since 2008, 27 bills since 2009. In the first half of this year, it received another 30 fines.

In total, the contractor owes the municipal Department of Transport nearly VND350 million ($18,420).

Most violations were for careless performance, including setting up irregular barriers, failing to pile building materials in good order, blocking traffic and damaging roads.

Under Regulation No 99/TB-SGTVT issued in September, 2008, contractors must carry out all administrative punishments decided by the department’s inspectors before being given permission to continue their work, Phat said.

However, he added that the regulation had not been carried out strictly, and violators had ignored paying their bills.

“The department’s inspectors did ask the contractors to pay the fines, but they looked for ways to dodge their responsibility,” Phat said.

The inspectors have asked that no more new permits be granted to those with outstanding fines. — VNS

Tags: Vietnam transportation