The new Government's organizational structure will be built in the direction of a multi-sectoral ministry.

VietNamNet newspaper interviewed Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra about the results of 5 years of implementing Resolution 18 of the 6th Central Conference, 12th tenure, on a number of issues on continuing to innovate and reorganize the apparatus of the political system to be streamlined and operate effectively and efficiently.

Looking back at 5 years of implementing Resolution 18 of the 6th Central Conference, Session XII, what changes have the Minister seen in the organizational apparatus from local to central levels?

Looking back at 5 years of implementing Resolution No. 18, it can be affirmed that we have achieved many important results, creating positive changes in innovation, reorganizing the apparatus, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the operations of agencies, units and organizations in the political system, associated with innovation in the Party's leadership methods, building and perfecting the socialist rule-of-law State.

Compared to before 2017 (before Resolution 18), the current organizational structure from local to central levels has been streamlined, with fewer intermediate levels and fewer focal points. Initially, we have overcome the overlapping of functions and tasks; reduced the number of leaders and managers, especially deputies and officials holding positions of authority...

Especially through the arrangement of administrative units at district and commune levels in the period of 2019 - 2021, we have completed the set goals and requirements.

It must be said that these results have created the premise, practical basis and important foundation for us to continue effectively implementing Resolution No. 18 until 2030.

Besides the achieved results, according to the Minister, what are the remaining difficulties and obstacles that cannot be implemented?

The arrangement and consolidation of a streamlined, effective and efficient organizational structure, and the reduction of staff in accordance with Resolution No. 18 of the Central Committee and Resolution 39 of the Politburo are difficult, sensitive, and complicated tasks that directly and comprehensively impact many organizations and individuals in the political system.

Therefore, in addition to the outstanding results achieved, there are still some difficulties and problems that need to be overcome in the coming time. There are still many places that have not linked the arrangement of the organizational apparatus with streamlining the payroll according to job positions and restructuring and improving the quality of the staff, civil servants and public employees.

The functions and tasks of some agencies and organizations still overlap and overlap, while the coordination mechanism is not really effective, thus reducing the effectiveness and efficiency of operations.

Some new policies on salary, attracting and using talents are slow to be materialized. Especially recently, there has been a phenomenon of some capable cadres, civil servants and public employees moving to the private sector,...

In addition, the inspection, supervision, urging and rectification of limitations in the implementation of Resolution No. 18 have not been carried out regularly, nor have organizations and individuals who have effectively implemented it been promptly commended and rewarded, and organizations and individuals who have not strictly handled regulations and failed to achieve the goals set out in the resolution have not been strictly handled...

All these difficulties and problems were frankly acknowledged by the Politburo in Conclusion No. 50 on continuing to implement Resolution No. 18; on that basis, tasks and solutions were proposed to continue to effectively implement this resolution in the period up to 2030.

Resolution No. 18 clearly states the guiding viewpoint: “One agency performs many tasks and one task is assigned to only one agency to preside over and take primary responsibility”. How has this been done and what are the results, Minister?

The principle of “a task is assigned to only one agency to preside over and take primary responsibility” has been set forth in the Party’s resolutions and conclusions quite early. Resolution No. 17 dated August 1, 2007 of the 5th Central Conference, Session X, on promoting administrative reform and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management, has set forth this principle. And Resolution No. 18 of the 6th Central Conference, Session XII, once again reaffirmed this principle.

Therefore, the arrangement and adjustment of the organization of ministries and ministerial-level agencies through the Government's terms and the organization of specialized agencies under the People's Committees at provincial and district levels in recent times have always ensured the thorough understanding of the Party's resolutions on administrative reform and consistent implementation of this principle.

In particular, the Government continues to organize multi-sectoral, multi-field management ministries, streamlined and rational; especially ministries and sectors with similar and overlapping functions and tasks to have appropriate solutions and implement consolidation, organizational arrangement and reduction of focal points.

The Government issues decrees regulating the organization of specialized agencies under the People's Committees at provincial and district levels, thereby regulating the framework of specialized agencies under the People's Committees at provincial and district levels to ensure consistency with the assignment of state management by sector, field and organizational structure of the Government. In other words, at the central level, a multi-sectoral ministry is organized, while at the local level, a multi-sectoral specialized agency is organized.

However, it must be recognized that there are still some overlapping tasks between state management agencies, such as: Food safety management; environmental management (medical waste); health insurance; biodiversity management...

Therefore, in the organizational structure project of the 15th Government (2021-2026), the Ministry of Home Affairs reported and proposed that the Government assign the presiding agency (according to regulations in specialized laws) to coordinate with relevant agencies to issue coordination regulations to clearly define the scope, management objects, coordination contents, authority and responsibility of each agency in organizing implementation.

Resolution 18 also sets out the tasks and solutions: “Continue to study and clarify the theoretical and practical basis for the scope of multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary management of a number of ministries and branches, especially those with similar and overlapping functions and tasks, in order to have appropriate solutions and implement the consolidation, organization arrangement, and reduction of focal points in the coming term. How will the Ministry of Home Affairs specify this task?”

In the coming time, the Ministry of Home Affairs will report to the Government on the implementation of the task of "Researching and summarizing 20 years of implementing the Government's organizational model from the 12th to the 15th tenures" in a systematic, scientific, comprehensive and holistic manner.

On that basis, clearly define the scope of multi-sectoral and multi-field management of ministries and branches; at the same time, research and clarify the theoretical and practical basis for the organization, functions and state management tasks of ministries and branches.

Thereby perfecting the system of state administrative apparatus organization from the central to local levels in the direction of streamlining, effective and efficient operation, ensuring the principle of "One agency performing many tasks and one task is assigned to only one agency to preside over and take primary responsibility" in accordance with the direction in the resolutions and conclusions of the Central Committee.

So what solutions does the Ministry of Home Affairs propose to continue to effectively implement and strive to complete the goals set out in Resolution No. 18 as required by the Politburo?

To complete the goals set out in Resolution 18, it must be said that there is still much work to be done. In the coming time, the Ministry of Home Affairs will advise the Steering Committee for Innovation and reorganize the apparatus of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies on continuing to improve the organization of general departments and equivalent organizations; innovate the management mechanism and reorganize the system of public service units from the central to local levels.

Another task is to research and summarize 20 years of implementing the Government's organizational model (term XII - XV), on that basis, research and develop the Project on the organizational structure of the Government term XVI.

In addition, we continue to reorganize administrative units at district and commune levels. Currently, the Ministry of Home Affairs has advised the Government to submit to the National Assembly Standing Committee a new resolution on reorganizing administrative units at district and commune levels for the 2023-2030 period.

The Ministry of Home Affairs will focus on building and perfecting institutions, ensuring quality and progress as set out.

In the immediate future, in 2023, focus on developing a series of decrees related to job positions and civil servant payroll; job positions and number of employees in public service units; on staff streamlining policies; on the number of deputies...

In particular, this year, the Ministry of Home Affairs will strive to develop a Decree on policies to attract and employ talented people in state administrative agencies and public service units; regulations on civil servants at the commune level and non-professional workers at the commune level, in villages and residential groups, etc.

In addition, according to the plan roadmap until 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs will research and submit to the Government the amendment and supplementation of a number of Laws: Cadres, civil servants; Organization of local government, etc.

Along with that, it is necessary to continue to promote decentralization and delegation of power in state management; manage payroll for the period 2023-2026 according to the regulations of the Politburo to reduce 5% of the payroll of cadres and civil servants and reduce 10% of the payroll of career positions receiving salaries from the state budget compared to 2021...

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