Ministry staff found visiting pagoda during work hours The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that it will issue serious punishment to its staff that were found to have visited a pagoda during their work hours.   Staff from the Trade Promotion Agency’s Export Support Centre went to Mother Temple in the northern province of Hung Yen on February 7. The group were uncovered during an interview by VTV television with a man working in the temple who helped to complete worship procedures for the group.  The man even showed a notebook which is used to write down all names of delegations which had attended at the temple, including people from the centre. Both the contact and address of the centre were also noted on the notebook. VTV reporters called all numbers of the centre, but no one picked up the phone. Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh requested the Trade Promotion Agency to provide an explanation today, February 8, before giving punishments to violators. On February 7, local media also reported a number of staff from the Hanoi People’s Committee had gone to pagodas using state-owned vehicles during working hours. However, the committee has yet to comment. Earlier, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued a document requesting ministries and localities to work seriously and avoid post-Tet indulgences after the holiday. Under the PM’s instruction, public servants are not allowed to go to festivals or pagodas during working hours or use public cars for that activity, except when performing their duties, the PM said. They are also banned from holding parties in their work time. Dtinews