Mr. Pham Minh Chinh: 'The more we streamline the workforce, the more the bureaucracy expands'

According to the Head of the Central Organization Department, the more plans and programs to streamline the apparatus are implemented, the more the number of personnel increases and the apparatus becomes even larger.

This afternoon (September 17th), the Politburo's inspection team, led by Politburo member and Head of the Central Organization Department Pham Minh Chinh, worked with the Standing Committee of the Hanoi City Party Committee on the implementation of Politburo Resolution No. 39 on streamlining personnel and restructuring the workforce of cadres, civil servants, and public employees, in conjunction with the implementation of Central Committee resolutions on personnel work. Representing the Hanoi City Party Committee were Politburo member and Secretary of the City Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai and other members of the Standing Committee.

Head of the Central Organizing Committee Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the working session (Photo: Hanoi Moi).

According to the report, in the past period, Hanoi city has proactively and creatively directed and organized the scientific and synchronized implementation of downsizing and restructuring the workforce of officials, civil servants, and public employees, ensuring the correct procedures. It has resolutely reorganized, merged, and dissolved inefficient or overlapping public service units.

Reorganize units to reduce budget expenditures, gradually increase autonomy, and eventually achieve complete financial self-sufficiency. Simultaneously, effectively implement policies and regulations for redundant leaders and managers after restructuring, establish mechanisms for retaining allowances, and prioritize reappointment to equivalent positions when vacancies arise… creating a sense of security and stability within each agency and unit, and continuing to effectively fulfill the political tasks of the Capital.

Regarding the organizational structure and staffing of administrative agencies, through review and reorganization, the entire city has reduced 55 departments and divisions; 130 public service units; 35 heads of departments and divisions; and 136 deputy heads of departments and divisions. The total expenditure for implementing the staff reduction scheme is 9.84 billion VND.

Ms. Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, stated that agencies and units have completed their plans for reducing staffing levels, and all levels of local government have identified various measures to achieve the goal of reducing staffing by 10% by 2021, while adhering to the principle of recruiting only 50% to replace retired civil servants as stipulated by state regulations. Regarding public employees, there will be no increase in staffing levels, except in the education and health sectors, in accordance with the prescribed quotas in central government documents.

Speaking at the meeting, Politburo member and Head of the Central Organization Department Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the achievements of the Hanoi City Party Committee in implementing personnel downsizing and restructuring the civil servant and public employee apparatus in the past period.

Mr. Pham Minh Chinh emphasized: Hanoi is one of the localities that has implemented this work very decisively. However, surveys in several provinces have revealed three issues that are causing great public dissatisfaction. Firstly, the bureaucracy is cumbersome, with overlapping operations and low efficiency. The more we implement plans and programs to streamline the bureaucracy, the more the number of personnel increases, and the bureaucracy becomes even larger. Secondly, there is the decline in ideology, politics, morality, and lifestyle, as well as negative phenomena and corruption among those in positions of power.

Mr. Pham Minh Chinh further emphasized: All three issues are interrelated. If the issues of organizational structure, operational mechanisms, and personnel management are resolved, then the fight against corruption and the fight against degradation will be effective.

According to VOV