The number of deputy heads of district-level professional agencies will be reduced.

Specifically, Decree No. 108/2020/ND-CP stipulates more clearly the heads of specialized agencies under the People's Committees at the district level. Accordingly, the heads of specialized agencies under the People's Committees at the district level (Head of Department), are members of the People's Committees at the district level elected by the People's Councils at the district level, appointed by the Chairman of the People's Committees at the district level, responsible to the People's Committees at the district level, the Chairman of the People's Committees at the district level and before the law for performing the functions, tasks and powers of the department and performing the tasks and powers of members of the People's Committees at the district level according to the Working Regulations and assignments of the People's Committees at the district level.

The Head of the Department is responsible for reporting to the People's Committee, the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level and the management agency of the sector or field on the organization and operation of his/her agency; reporting on work to the People's Council and the People's Committee at the district level when requested; coordinating with the heads of specialized agencies and socio-political organizations at the district level to resolve issues related to his/her functions, tasks and powers.

Decree No. 108/2020/ND-CP stipulates that on average, each specialized department under the People's Committee at the district level has 02 Deputy Heads of Department. Based on the number of specialized departments established and the total number of Deputy Heads of Department, the People's Committee at the district level shall decide on the specific number of Deputy Heads of Department of each specialized department accordingly. Previously, Decree No. 37/2014/ND-CP stipulated that the number of Deputy Heads of specialized departments under the People's Committee at the district level shall not exceed 03 people.

In particular, Decree No. 108/2020/ND-CP stipulates that the Department of Home Affairs has the function of advising and assisting the People's Committee at the district level in performing the state management function on: Organizational structure; job positions, civil servant payroll and civil servant rank structure in state administrative agencies and organizations; job positions, staff structure by professional title and number of employees in public service units; salaries for cadres, civil servants, public employees, contract workers in administrative agencies, organizations, public service units; administrative reform;local government; administrative boundaries;cadres, civil servants, public employees; commune-level cadres, civil servants and non-professional workers at commune, village and residential group levels; associations, non-governmental organizations; state documents and archives; beliefs and religions; youth work; emulation and rewards.

The Department of Justice has the function of advising and assisting the People's Committee at the district level in performing the state management function on: Law making and enforcement, law enforcement monitoring, inspection and handling of legal documents, dissemination and education of law; grassroots mediation, legal aid, adoption, civil status, authentication and other judicial work according to the provisions of law; management of law enforcement on handling of administrative violations.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment advises and assists the People's Committee at the district level in performing the state management function on: Land, water resources; mineral resources; environment; sea and islands; surveying and mapping; climate change.
Decree 108/2020/ND-CP takes effect from November 25, 2020.

New regulations on the number of Deputy Directors of Departments and Deputy Heads of Divisions

The Government has just issued Decree 107/2020/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 24/2014/ND-CP dated April 4, 2014 of the Government regulating the organization of specialized agencies under the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities.