Provincial People's Council delegates proposed to study and amend the regime for people working in blocks, hamlets and villages.

Comrade Cao Thi Hien - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council chaired the discussion session at the hall. Photo: Thanh Cuong

5 shortcomings in implementing the regime for branch leaders in blocks, hamlets, and villages

Regarding this issue, according to the analysis of the delegates at the group discussion session, there are 5 shortcomings. Specifically:

- Firstly, the hamlet level is not an administrative level, so it is not possible to develop a specific work plan associated with the budget expenditure estimate (the hamlet's work often arises and cannot be planned in advance).

- Second, it is difficult to clearly distinguish between the work of the hamlet-level union and the work of the hamlet (For example: The hamlet Women's Union implements the policy of the higher-level Women's Union to build a flower street for the new rural hamlet. Is this the hamlet's work or the work of the union...);

Delegate Ngo Thi Thu Hien (Vinh city) raised the issue that in the block and hamlet, there are many people participating in the work, not just the 5 branch heads of 5 organizations. Photo: Thanh Cuong

- Third, it is difficult to pay allowances in the form of timekeeping, because it is impossible to set a standard for union activities based on working days. If calculated based on daily work, who will follow the union officer to check attendance?

- Fourth, the provision of a compensation level of 50,000 - 100,000 VND is unreasonable in both the name and the level of expenditure, as well as the guaranteed funding source (at the level of 23 - 25 million VND/group/year). At that level, if calculated for working days, it cannot operate.

- Fifth, with the above implementation plan, the procedures are extremely cumbersome and complicated. If we continue to follow the above regulations, forcing the hamlets to legalize their records will cause long-term consequences. We propose that the Provincial People's Committee consider adjusting Decision 14/2020/QD-UBND.

The above issues are shortcomings in the implementation of Resolution 22/2019/NQ-HDND dated December 12, 2019 of the Provincial People's Council on the number, titles, allowance levels, regimes and policies for non-professional workers and other subjects in communes, wards, towns, hamlets, blocks and villages in Nghe An province; Decision No. 14/2020/QD-UBND dated May 27, 2020 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on the level of allowances and the process of implementing the level of allowances for people directly participating in the work of hamlets, blocks and villages in the province.

Delegate Phan Thi Thanh Thuy (Thai Hoa town) proposed that the Provincial People's Committee study and amend Decision 14/QD-UBND dated May 27, 2020. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Proposed research adjustment

During the discussion session at the hall on the morning of July 21, many delegates continued to raise difficulties in the practical implementation of Resolution 22/2019/NQ-HDND of the Provincial People's Council and Decision No. 14/2020/QD-UBND of the Provincial People's Committee.

Delegate Ngo Thi Thu Hien (Vinh city) commented that Decision No. 14/2020/QD-UBND stipulates that the subjects of application are people directly participating in work in blocks, hamlets, and villages, in which priority is given to the branch presidents of 5 organizations: Women, Farmers, Veterans, Elderly, and Youth Union.

However, those who regularly participate in work in the block, hamlet, and village also include the Red Cross, Encouragement of Learning, and Heads of residential groups... With the current number of people working in the block and hamlet compared to the contract level according to Resolution 22/2019/NQ-HDND, it is difficult to ensure spending levels for all subjects.

Delegate Hoang Van Phi (Hung Nguyen) also mentioned the shortcomings in implementing the regime for those working in blocks, hamlets, and villages. Photo: Thanh Cuong

On the other hand, according to delegate Ngo Thi Thu Hien, in Decision No. 14/2020/QD-UBND, priority subjects are stipulated, so who are the non-priority subjects? The Provincial People's Committee should clarify. Delegate Ngo Thi Thu Hien also suggested that the guidance on making allowance estimates should not be made based on working days but should be based on the activities of mass organizations because each mass organization has different activities.

Also concerned about the allowance regime for those participating in work in blocks, hamlets and villages, delegate Phan Thi Thanh Thuy (Thai Hoa town) said that the implementation of Decision No. 14/2020/QD-UBND is currently inadequate, and requested the Provincial People's Committee to study and adjust regulations on appropriate spending levels and methods, otherwise it will easily cause disunity at the grassroots level.

Mr. Tran Quoc Chung - Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs explained and clarified many issues of concern to delegates. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Regarding the opinions of the Provincial People's Council delegates at the group discussion session and the discussion at the chairman's meeting, Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs Tran Quoc Chung explained and affirmed that in Decree No. 34/2019/ND-CP, in the block, hamlet, and village, only 3 positions of Party cell secretary; head of block, hamlet, and village and head of the Front work committee are entitled to monthly allowances; the rest are not entitled to monthly allowances. However, there are also regulations that depending on the actual situation and local budget, localities can propose allowances for those working in the block, hamlet, and village.

Pursuant to Decree No. 34/2019/ND-CP and on the basis of Resolution No. 151/2014/NQ-HDND of the Provincial People's Council stipulating the monthly allowance level of branch heads of mass organizations in blocks, hamlets and villages in the province issued previously and referring to a number of provinces across the country, the Provincial People's Committee has calculated and advised the Provincial People's Council to issue Resolution 22/2019/NQ-HDND-UBND on the level of fixed operating expenses in blocks and hamlets to be allocated to organizations with higher levels of activities according to Resolution No. 151/2014/NQ-HDND through the form of daily allowance for direct participation in work in hamlets of 50,000 - 100,000 VND/day.

Panoramic view of the festival. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs also affirmed that the allowance of 50,000 - 100,000 VND/day for participating in work in the block and hamlet is not paid according to the working day but is only a allowance for those who participate in work in the block and hamlet voluntarily and with the trust of the people. The Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs also explained the procedures related to budget estimates and payments, requiring localities to develop internal spending regulations and implement timekeeping according to financial principles and regulations under the Budget Law.

After the explanation of Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs Tran Quoc Chung, Comrade Cao Thi Hien - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, chaired the meeting, affirmed that the implementation of the allowance regime for those participating in work in blocks, hamlets and villages is carried out on the basis of Central regulations.

However, in practice, there are still many shortcomings, so after this session, the Provincial People's Committee is requested to direct the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Finance to survey and re-evaluate the practice to resolve the issues. If the policy is correct, it is necessary to do a good job of propaganda so that the policy can be implemented. The chair of the session, Cao Thi Hien, also emphasized the role and responsibility of local authorities in this story.

Based on the discussion opinions of the Provincial People's Council delegates and the request of the meeting chairman, Mr. Le Dinh Ly - Director of the Department of Home Affairs shared the difficulties in implementing the payment and settlement procedures to enjoy the allowance level in the block, hamlet, and village, and at the same time accepted and promised to coordinate with the Department of Finance and the Provincial Treasury to make appropriate adjustments, ensuring convenience in payment and settlement of support funds according to Decision 14 of the Provincial People's Committee.

Plum Blossom