Which positions will be eliminated after the commune merger?
After reorganization, communes will have larger areas and expanded powers as they take over all tasks from the district level and receive additional decentralization and delegation of authority from the provincial level.
According to the plan for rearranging and reorganizing administrative units at all levels and building a two-tiered local government model in Government Decision 759, the size of commune-level administrative units after mergers will be larger, and the tasks and powers of the commune-level local government will also increase.
After reorganization, communes will have larger areas and expanded powers as they take over all tasks from the district level and receive additional decentralization and delegation of authority from the provincial level.
Specifically, the government plans to end the use of part-time officials at the commune level starting August 1st.
The number of part-time officials will be considered by the local government, and they will be assigned to work in villages and residential areas if they meet the necessary conditions. Those who cannot be assigned to work will be laid off.
According to Government Decree 33 on the titles of part-time officials at the commune level, the number of part-time commune officials is calculated according to the type of commune administrative unit, specifically: type 1 is 14 people; type 2 is 12 people; type 3 is 10 people.
The specific titles for part-time officials are decided by the Provincial People's Council upon submission to the Provincial People's Committee.
For example, according to Resolution 18/2023, Hanoi City has 10 non-professional positions, including: Party Committee Office at the commune level; Head of commune-level broadcasting; Deputy Commander of the Military; Deputy Chairman of the Fatherland Front; Deputy Chairman of the Veterans Association; Deputy Chairman of the Women's Union; Deputy Chairman of the Farmers Association; Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union; Chairman of the Elderly Association; and Chairman of the Red Cross Association at the commune level.
Meanwhile, Dong Thap province has 14 non-specialized positions (based on Resolution 43/2023); while Ho Chi Minh City stipulates 17 non-specialized positions at the commune level (according to Resolution 02/2024).
Therefore, after the merger, the aforementioned non-specialized commune-level official positions will cease to function.
According to Decision 759, the Government also anticipates that the newly merged commune-level People's Committees will have a maximum of 4 specialized departments and equivalent units, suitable to the characteristics of urban, rural, and island (special zone) areas, including: the Office of the People's Council and People's Committee; the Economic/Urban Economy and Infrastructure Department; the Culture and Social Affairs Department; and the Public Administrative Service Center.
According to Mr. Phan Trung Tuan, Director of the Local Government Department, Ministry of Interior, on average, each commune currently has about 12 part-time officials, while we have more than 10,000 communes. Therefore, a preliminary estimate suggests that the number of part-time officials at the commune level is currently over 120,000.
