Many National Assembly (NA) deputies have shared the views that heads of State agencies should take higher responsibility in staff reduction on the sidelines of their discussions on law enforcement in the reform of State administrative apparatus for 2011-2016 as part of the fourth sitting of the 14th NA in Hanoi on October 30. 

NA deputy of Dong Thap province, Pham Van Hoa

Nguyen Van Chien, a deputy from Hanoi, said that to streamline administrative procedures and shrink staff more drastically between now and 2020, it is a must for agency heads to set forth comprehensive measures to assign tasks to agencies in localities. 

He pointed out that the personnel reduction in 2015 and 2016 met only 0.83 percent of the set target, explaining that the cumbersome State administrative apparatus has existed for a long time. 

Chien’s views were echoed by deputies Tran Dinh Gia from the central province of Ha Tinh, Nguyen Truong Giang from the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak and Nguyen Van Hien from the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. 

Deputy Hien stressed the need to apply information-technology (IT) as well as achievements of the fourth industrial revolution in administrative reform. 

Chien said Hanoi has used IT applications and achievements of the fourth industrial revolution in management, in the hope of raising the efficiency of personnel reduction. 

Hien said outcomes of the implementation of e-Government were below expectations over the past time, stressing that IT application plays the most important role and can create breakthroughs in administrative reform once it is maximised. 

Trinh Ngoc Phuong, a deputy from the central province of Quang Binh, held that personnel reduction should be conducted from central to grassroots levels, suggesting the merger and reduction of units when necessary. 

Bui Sy Loi from the central province of Thanh Hoa urged State agencies to ensure reasonable salaries for their staff so as to encourage them to outstanding fulfil their assigned tasks, while paying more attention to personnel quality. 

Contests should be held to select right, quality staff, the deputy stressed.  

Many expressed their hope that the Government will have more drastic measures to raise the efficiency of administrative reform and personnel reduction.-VNA