Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra stated that the policies for officials, civil servants, and employees involved in streamlining the apparatus must be bold, innovative, humane, and fair to ensure that "no one is left behind" during the restructuring process.

Speaking to VietNamNet, Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra explained that under the plan agreed upon by the Government Steering Committee, after restructuring and merging, the Government will consist of 13 ministries and 4 ministerial-level agencies, a reduction of 5 ministries and 3 government-affiliated agencies. This number exceeds the initial targets set by the Central Committee.

Additionally, the restructuring will see the elimination of most general departments and equivalent bodies, along with 500 departments under ministries and general departments, 177 divisions within ministries and ministerial-level agencies, and 190 public non-business units. The Ministry of Home Affairs is currently finalizing all related reports and proposals to present to the Politburo and the Central Steering Committee on December 25.

"The preliminary results show that after streamlining and merging, the number of organizational units will decrease by 35-40%, and the remaining units will be further consolidated to achieve a minimum 15% reduction. This represents a significant change, impacting a large number of officials, civil servants, and employees," Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra noted.

Given the scale of the restructuring, the Minister highlighted the urgent need to develop policies to stabilize the livelihoods of those affected. Over recent days, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been working tirelessly to draft these policies and submit them for timely approval.

Encouraging early retirement while retaining talent

The Ministry has completed a draft decree on policies for officials, civil servants, and contract workers affected by the restructuring of the political system. The draft has been submitted to the Government Steering Committee and will soon be presented to the Politburo.

According to Minister Tra, the decree emphasizes revolutionary policies to match the scale of the restructuring effort. These policies are designed to be bold, fair, and humane, ensuring a reasonable balance for all affected groups. The objective is to safeguard the rights and livelihoods of officials, civil servants, and workers while implementing a streamlined and efficient apparatus.

A key feature of the policies is special incentives for individuals who choose to retire within 12 months of their organization’s restructuring. At the same time, the Ministry stressed the importance of holding leaders accountable for evaluating and selecting qualified staff during the restructuring process.

"Equally important is retaining capable and qualified officials to prevent 'brain drain' and maintain the quality of the public workforce," Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized.

In addition to these policies, the Ministry of Home Affairs is finalizing regulations for attracting and utilizing talented individuals in the public sector. This policy is expected to be issued by the end of December 2024.

"The Ministry of Home Affairs is undertaking an unprecedented volume of work, including reviewing legal documents, guiding and supervising restructuring processes, and managing personnel decisions within its authority," Minister Tra said.

A historic moment for transformation

Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra underscored that General Secretary To Lam had chosen a historically significant moment to launch this "revolutionary" restructuring - right before the upcoming Party congresses, leading to the 14th National Party Congress.

This marks a major decision to prepare the country for a new phase of development, celebrating the 95th anniversary of the Party’s founding, 50 years since the liberation of southern Vietnam, and 80 years since the nation’s establishment.

This timing is critical to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and rapid digital transformation.

"The restructuring of the apparatus has generated strong momentum across the political system, driven by comprehensive, coordinated, scientific, and methodical efforts," Minister Tra concluded, highlighting the initial, tangible progress achieved so far.

Thu Hang