Nghe An will reduce at least 359 public service units and 16,833 staff.

In addition to merging schools horizontally, merging schools vertically, meaning many levels in one school to reduce the number of public service providers, is also an orientation of the Nghe An Education and Training sector. Photo: Minh Chi

According to the synthesis from the Provincial People's Committee, the whole province has 1,890 public service units (PSUs), with 6,612 affiliated departments and equivalent units (not including the units and departments of schools).

Of which, according to provincial management authority, there are 194 public service units and at district level, there are 1,696 public service units.

By sector, the education and training sector has the largest number of public non-business units, with 1,552 units, accounting for 82.1%; followed by the health sector with 73 units; culture, sports and tourism with 39 units; information - communication and press with 27 units; science and technology with 4 units; vocational training with 17 units; economics and other sectors with 178 units (including 30 project management boards and 4 provincial fund units).

The total number of civil servants and public employees working in public service units as of 2015 was 62,120 people and currently is 57,013 people.

Nghe An Center for Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring is a self-sufficient public service unit. This is also a solution to reduce the number of employees receiving salaries from the State budget. Photo: Minh Chi

Of the total 1,890 public service units, 1 unit self-insures regular and investment expenditures according to Decree No. 16/2015/ND-CP; 87 units self-insure regular expenditures; 1,096 units self-insure a part of operating expenses; 706 units have 100% operating expenses covered by the budget.

Since 2015, the province has reduced 22 public service units and 21 self-sufficient public service units. The State has not provided budget for 4,334 civil servants and public employees, which means the number of staff has been reduced over the past 3 years.

To effectively implement Resolution No. 08/NQ-CP and Resolution No. 10/NQ-CP on the Government's Action Program to implement Resolution No. 6 of the Central Committee (12th tenure) of the Party Central Committee, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued two Plans No. 284/KH-UBND and Plan No. 285/KH-UBND dated May 3, 2018.

Accordingly, the specific targets are set: by 2021, the whole province will reduce at least 10% of public non-business units, equivalent to 189 units (in 3 years) and 10% of payroll staff receiving salaries from the State budget compared to 2015, equivalent to 6,212 people.

And by 2025, continue to reduce at least 10% of public service units compared to 2021, equivalent to 170 units; reduce 10% of public service staff compared to 2021, equivalent to 5,590 people.

Agricultural extension officers of Con Cuong district guide farmers in growing American melons. Photo courtesy

Also according to the Plan of the Provincial People's Committee, within 3 years (2018 - 2021), strive to have 10% of units financially autonomous and 20% by 2025. On the other hand, by 2021, strive to basically complete the conversion of qualified economic and public service units into joint stock companies (except hospitals and schools) so that by 2025, 100% of units will be converted.

Also according to the Plans of the Provincial People's Committee, by 2030, there will only be public service units serving political tasks, serving State management and units providing basic and essential public service; striving to reduce 10% of the public service staff receiving salaries from the budget compared to 2025, equivalent to 5,031 people.

Thus, in the whole period from 2018 to 2030, the whole province strives to reduce at least 359 public service units and 16,833 positions receiving salaries from the State budget.