PM wants tougher rules for karaoke licensing

In summing up an online national conference on fire safety held in mid-September he said the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism should verify if karaoke and dance establishments have proper permits and if they had met all requirements to get them.

It also has to make licensing regulations stricter, he said, giving it time until year-end to complete both the verification and proposals.

He said the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs need to add firefighting to the list of hazardous occupations so that firefighters get preferential treatment.

He also called for production of advanced firefighting equipment and private investment in it.

Vietnam has suffered from more than a few karaoke parlor fires this year, with the two deadliest occurring in August and September.

A blaze at the An Phu Karaoke Parlor in Binh Duong Province near HCMC on Sep. 6 killed 32 customers and employees and injured 17 others, making it the deadliest of the last two decades.

It was later confirmed that a short-circuit in its second-floor ceiling caused the fire.

In early August three firefighters died while putting off a fire at the ISIS Karaoke Parlor in Hanoi’s Cau Giay District. The fire was caused by a welding machine used for repairs inside.

The owner of An Phu and the manager of ISIS have been arrested for questioning.