Singers and models in Vietnam would have to get a work permit beginning from January 2014 according to a new regulation.
The organiser and 13 models of a recent fashion show named “Dem hoi chan dai 7" (Long-Legged Girls’ Festival 7) in HCM City have just been fined due to an illegal lingerie performance
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a live meeting on June 3 to collect opinions about the plan from Hanoi, Danang and HCM City.
Opinions will be collected through August this year and the plan will be implemented in September. The enforcement would be piloted among particular groups of artists between October and December so as the regulation could take effect from next January.
The regulation follows disagreements about the behaviour of a number of Vietnamese showbiz artists.
Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho Anh Tuan said, “The issuance of such work permit is necessary for artists in order to prevent possible wrongdoings in the sector, including lip-syncing, improper behaviour and scanty clothing.”
According to Tuan, in the long term the permit would be applied to all artists but would be initially to singers and models who had recently fallen foul of the ministry.
Nguyen Dang Chuong, Director of the Art Performing Department said those who applied for the permit needed to meet conditions of ‘morality’, professionalism and have a clean resume.
The ministry plans to issue two types of artist work permits for professional and amateur artists, Chuong said.
He added that the permit code would coincide with the performer’s personal income tax numbers. Artists would have their permit suspended from six months to two years depending on their violations. A third violation would result in the revoking of their permit.
The ministry plans to grant five-year work permits for professional artists and three-year permits for amateur artists.
The regulation has met widespread opposition.
Vo Trong Nam, Deputy Director of HCM City municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said more attention should be paid to the issue before reaching a final decision.
Several other worried that lax management may foster possible corruption in the sector as artists would be compelled to offer bribes to get such permits in order to peruse a living.
People's Artist Le Chuc, Vice Chairman of Vietnam Stage Artists Association said there should be only one type of work permit for artists to prevent discrimination among artists.
Hoang Tuan, who often sponsors for art performances disagreed with the regulation that a code of conduct should coincide with their personal income tax numbers.
People's Artist Tran Binh, Director of the Central Light Music Theatre said if artists are required to get work permit, such procedures should be applied to event organisers.
Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho Anh Tuan said that the ministry would continue to collect opinions about the plan before official application.