The HCMC People’s Committee has sent a document to departments, specialized agencies, public service units and the People’s Committees of communes, wards and special zones across the city, requesting an urgent and comprehensive review of policies and benefits provided to officials, civil servants, public employees and workers during organizational restructuring under Decree No. 178/2024/ND-CP and Decree No. 67/2025/ND-CP.

The document was issued on the basis of Official Dispatch No. 8183 dated Aug. 14 from the Government Office, Report No. 1212 dated July 31 from the State Audit of Vietnam and Official Dispatch No. 9624 dated Aug. 29 from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In a report submitted to the prime minister, the State Audit said sample audits conducted at several ministries, central agencies and localities found that most audited units had violations or errors that posed potential risks of losses and waste to the state budget. The shortcomings spanned three stages: issuing guidance documents, appraising and approving employees eligible for workforce reductions, and making benefit payments.

In HCMC, according to the People’s Committee’s summary of the State Audit findings, several shortcomings were identified in the handling of severance and retirement benefits.

These included failing to issue assessment criteria, or issuing them without consulting the collective leadership; approving severance or early retirement for employees who had been rated as having successfully completed their duties or better for three consecutive years on the grounds that they “failed to meet requirements,” a practice identified at 14 units; granting benefits to managerial civil servants even though the number of managers and leaders did not exceed prescribed limits, found at two units; incomplete supporting documentation for health-related departures, found at six units; and approving departures for employees with more than five years of service remaining when staffing levels had not met or exceeded prescribed limits, found at seven units.

On that basis, the HCMC People’s Committee has required two groups of units to complete their reviews and submit reports by Sept. 10.

For units that underwent detailed audits, reports must address each error identified by the State Audit, including the legal and factual grounds, reasons for approving and making the payments, the amounts already paid, amounts expected to be recovered or adjusted, and the causes and responsibilities of the organizations and individuals involved.

If a unit believes a State Audit finding does not accurately reflect its records or circumstances, it must provide a specific explanation accompanied by supporting documents. Generalized reports or statements of opinion alone will not be accepted.

Units that were not subject to detailed audits must also submit written reports on the results of their reviews even if they identify no errors, and they will be held responsible for the contents of those reports.

Under previously issued Decision No. 344/QD-KTNN, seven specialized agencies and 33 wards and communes in HCMC were included in the list of units subject to detailed audits.

The HCMC People’s Committee also clearly defined accountability. The head of each agency, unit and locality will be responsible before the city administration and the law for the completeness, accuracy and truthfulness of the documentation and review results.

If reports are incomplete or inaccurate, or corrective action is delayed, the heads of the relevant units will be held responsible for the implementation of the task.

The HCMC Department of Home Affairs has been assigned to compile the results from all units and advise the People’s Committee on its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which must be submitted by Sept. 14. It will also compile a list of units that submit late or incomplete reports for the People’s Committee to review and issue further instructions.

Phuoc Sang