The Ministry of Interior issues new guidelines on downsizing the workforce, contract employment, and civil servant recruitment.
The Ministry of Interior has just instructed the Department of Interior of Lam Dong province to resolve a series of obstacles related to civil servant regulations, downsizing, recruitment, disciplinary actions against officials, and the implementation of labor contracts according to government decrees.
Clarify the areas of particular difficulty in order to apply the policy.
The Ministry of Interior has recently sent a document to the Department of Interior of Lam Dong province providing guidance on resolving many difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of decrees related to civil servants, downsizing, labor contracts, and disciplinary action against officials.
One of the issues clarified by the Ministry of Interior is the implementation of Decree 76/2019 on policies for officials, civil servants, and public employees working in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions.
According to the Ministry of Interior, based on Decree 272/2025, the People's Committees of the provinces are responsible for approving the list of villages in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, and particularly disadvantaged villages in their localities. Based on this, the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions has issued decisions announcing the list of communes in areas I, II, and III, and particularly disadvantaged villages for the period 2026-2030, to serve as a basis for implementing policies and regulations.
The Ministry of Interior also stated that those working under contracts as stipulated in Decree 68/2000 and Decree 161/2018 are eligible for policy consideration if they meet the necessary conditions.
Regarding the initial allowance for taking up a position in a particularly difficult area, the Ministry affirms that this policy only applies to those who are taking up their first position at an agency or unit in a difficult area. The actual time worked in these areas is also the basis for calculating the long-service allowance.
Regarding Decree 173/2025 on contracts for the performance of duties by civil servants, the Ministry of Interior emphasized that state agencies are not allowed to sign labor contracts to perform state management tasks that are regular and continuous.
Accordingly, positions such as document review, administrative procedure processing, emulation and reward, pharmaceutical specialist, or medical examination and treatment management in departments and agencies are not eligible for labor contracts.
However, Decree 173/2025 does not limit the number of contracts signed for specialized, in-depth, or seasonal work. Contracts must be based on actual needs, serving urgent or unforeseen tasks, or the need for high-quality personnel for a specific period.
Civil servants who fail to complete their duties are not subject to downsizing.
Notably, the Ministry of Interior has provided specific guidance on the application of Decree 154/2025 on downsizing the workforce and Decree 170/2025 on the recruitment, employment, and management of civil servants.
According to the Ministry of Interior, from June 15, 2025, civil servants who have been rated as failing to complete their duties for one year will be subject to downsizing under Decree 154.
However, from July 1, 2025, the Law on Cadres and Civil Servants of 2025 and Decree 170/2025 will come into effect, stipulating that civil servants classified as failing to complete their duties will be subject to termination of employment and receive benefits according to Decree 170.
Therefore, the Ministry of Interior affirms that in cases where civil servants are classified as failing to complete their duties, the provisions of the Law on Cadres and Civil Servants and Decree 170/2025 will apply, instead of applying the downsizing policy according to Decree 154/2025.
If you receive a severance pay and then pass the civil service exam, you must repay the money.
Regarding part-time officials at the commune level, the Ministry of Interior stated that if they have already benefited from the downsizing scheme under Decree 154/2025, they are not eligible for special recruitment into the civil service.
If they aspire to become civil servants, these individuals must register and participate in the recruitment examination according to general regulations.
Notably, the Ministry of Interior emphasized that individuals who received severance pay but were re-employed by a state-funded agency within 60 months of the severance pay date must repay the entire amount received.
This means that part-time commune-level officials who received downsizing support but subsequently passed the civil service exam or returned to work within the state-funded salary system within 5 years will have to repay the previous allowance.
Regarding Decree 172/2025 on disciplinary action against officials and civil servants, the Ministry of Interior stated that the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has the authority to take disciplinary action against former Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Commune People's Committees who were in office before July 1, 2025, but have since retired or resigned.
The Ministry also requested localities to continue resolving outstanding administrative procedures, complaints, and denunciations following the reorganization of administrative units, ensuring that the activities of citizens and businesses are not disrupted.
