It is not possible to specify the monthly support level for each position participating in the work of the block, hamlet, and village.

Concerns about policies for people directly participating in block, hamlet and village work

Participating in the discussion at the hall on the morning of December 11, many delegates expressed concerns and worries related to the draft Resolution on the number, titles, allowance levels, policies and regimes for non-professional workers and other subjects in communes, wards, towns, blocks, hamlets and villages in Nghe An province, which was submitted for consideration and approval at the 12th session of the 17th Provincial People's Council.

Delegate Tran Van Huong - Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association expressed concern about the fact that the allowance for those directly participating in the work of the block, hamlet, and village is regulated according to the general contract level. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Delegate Tran Van Huong - Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association, belonging to the Nam Dan district constituency, said that during the process of appraising the draft, in practice, he found that there were still shortcomings in the fact that the compensation budget for those directly participating in the work of the block, hamlet, and village was regulated according to the general contract level.

The draft resolution sets out the following allowance levels: hamlets and villages with 350 households or more; hamlets and villages in key communes with complex security and order issues as decided by competent authorities; hamlets and villages in border or island communes are allocated 25 million VND/year; the remaining hamlets, blocks and villages are allocated 23 million VND/year.

Delegate Huong gave an example that at the grassroots level, many hamlet chiefs are also the heads of the farmers' association. With this general allowance, they do not know how they will benefit. Even if the regulations are unclear, it can lead to a situation where non-professional workers "do it if they like, and don't do it if they don't like". Therefore, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association suggested that it is necessary to stipulate specific support levels for each position, not to merge them together, causing difficulties for the grassroots.

Sharing this view, delegate Dinh Thi An Phong (Nghi Loc) said that the budget allocation for people directly participating in the work of the block, hamlet, and village is still low: "Basically, in the block, hamlet, and village, there are 5 mass organizations, so that allocation is still very low. I suggest that the Provincial People's Council needs to consider further."

This delegate also cited an example in Nghi Loc district, where 5 hamlets merged into 1 hamlet, the area was larger, there was more work, but according to the new regulations, the allowance level for non-professional positions did not change much, causing inconvenience.

In addition, according to Decree 34/2019/ND-CP dated April 24, 2019 amending and supplementing a number of regulations on commune-level cadres, civil servants and non-professional workers at the commune, village and residential group levels, the positions in the Youth Union and Association branches are not regulated. Therefore, delegate An Phong asked whether the Provincial People's Council has regulated these positions in the blocks, hamlets and villages or not? Will the unions organize congresses to elect the positions in the near future? If not, how will they be arranged to ensure activities at the grassroots level?

Also discussing the fixed salary level, delegate Cao Thi Thuy - President of the Women's Union of Dien Chau district proposed not to agree on the specific fixed salary level of 23 and 25 million/year as in the draft Resolution, which would not be suitable for each stage, with the adjustment over time of the basic salary increase coefficient.

Director of the Department of Home Affairs Le Dinh Ly explains and clarifies the opinions of delegates. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Support contract is Nghe An's own policy.

Explaining related opinions, Mr. Le Dinh Ly - Director of the Department of Home Affairs said that in the 5 draft Resolutions that the Department advised the Provincial People's Committee to submit at this session, the draft Resolution on the number, titles, allowance levels, policies and regimes for non-professional workers and other subjects in communes, wards, towns, blocks, hamlets and villages in Nghe An province received great attention from many delegates.

Regarding the number of positions, the leader of the Home Affairs sector said that according to Decree 34, the number of non-professional workers at the commune level is assigned (12 people for type 1 communes, 11 people for type 2 communes and 10 people for type 3 communes). Based on that, the Department of Home Affairs advised 11 positions, including 9 positions at commune level and 11 positions at ward level.

“Some wards of type 3 only have a quota of 10 people, so there will be one position that cannot be arranged for non-professional workers. The Department has consulted and asked for opinions, in this case it may be necessary to arrange for a concurrent position, or not arrange the position of chairman of the farmers' association in wards with a high level of urbanization... Particularly in places where 11 positions are arranged for 12 people, some positions such as vice chairman of the front can be arranged for 1 more person,” Mr. Ly gave an example, affirming that depending on actual conditions, localities can arrange the appropriate number of non-professional workers.

Regarding the allowance level, Mr. Le Dinh Ly said that according to the current Decree 34, the allowance level for non-professional workers in communes, hamlets and villages is stipulated. Accordingly, group 1 includes hamlets and villages with 350 households or more; hamlets and villages in key communes with complicated security and order according to the decision of competent authorities; hamlets and villages in border or island communes are allocated an allowance of 5.0; group 2 includes the remaining hamlets and villages with an allowance of 3.0.

On that basis, the Department of Home Affairs advises that group 1 secretaries and hamlet chiefs enjoy an allowance coefficient of 1.7, and heads of the front work committee 1.4. Group 2 secretaries and hamlet chiefs enjoy an allowance coefficient of 1.1, and heads of the front work committee 0.85.

The head of the Women's Union of the hamlet visited a poor family member in Dien An commune, Dien Chau. Illustration photo: Thu Giang

To get these figures, the Department of Home Affairs consulted with many relevant departments, agencies, and sectors, discussed thoroughly, and developed many options, but this option was considered optimal. The difference between the two groups was explained by the head of the Department of Home Affairs to encourage mergers, in line with the Government's goals and related regulations.

Regarding the regulation on allowances for those directly involved in work in blocks, hamlets and villages, according to previous regulations, in addition to part-time positions such as Party cell secretary and hamlet chief, a number of positions are entitled to support from the Provincial People's Council, associated with each position.

“But now Decree 34 stipulates that in addition to positions entitled to allowances, other positions are only entitled to compensation based on work occurrence. Compensation is paid to people when work occurs,” said Mr. Le Dinh Ly.

To implement this Decree, based on the current support coefficient according to Resolution 151, in group 1 it is 24 million VND, in group 2 it is 22 million VND, the Department of Home Affairs advises on the compensation level for these positions, in group 1 it is 25 million/year, in group 2 it is 23 million VND/year.

“This level is also a bit low, but it is consistent with the Government’s proposal to allocate operating expenses to hamlet level and will move towards allocating operating expenses to commune-level organizations,” said the leader of the Department of Home Affairs, adding that this is a separate policy of Nghe An province. Mr. Ly also affirmed that it is impossible to stipulate a monthly support level for each position in the block, hamlet, and village, and in the near future, the Provincial People’s Committee will have specific instructions on the level of spending for this allowance level.