Streamlining staff but still "thirsty" for talent
Over the past 3 years, nearly 40,000 people have been downsized according to Decree 108/2014/ND-CP of the Government. However, downsizing does not mean reducing staff mechanically. The State still needs to have a mechanism to attract talented people and prevent a “brain drain”.
Downsizing and brain drain
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, from 2015 to August 2018, the total number of people downsized according to Decree No. 108/2014/ND-CP reviewed by the Ministry of Home Affairs was 39,823 people. Of which, 5,778 people were downsized in 2015; 11,923 people in 2016; 12,660 people in 2017 and 9,462 people in the first 7 months of 2018.
Chief of Office of the Ministry of Home Affairs Vu Dang Minh said that of these, 34,515 people (86.67%) enjoyed the policy of early retirement, 5,234 people (13.14%) enjoyed the policy of immediate termination of employment, 29 people (0.07%) enjoyed the policy of termination of employment after graduation and the number of people enjoying the policy of transferring to organizations that do not receive regular salaries from the State budget was 40 people, accounting for 0.10%.
By agency and unit, the number of people being downsized in Party and mass organizations is 1,646 people (4.13%); in administrative agencies is 4,726 people (11.87%); in public service units is 27,102 people (68.08%); in commune-level civil servants is 6,141 people (15.42%); in state-owned enterprises is 192 people (0.48%) and in association organizations is 16 people (0.4%).
Besides, according to Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Trong Thua, there are cases where people really want to work in state agencies, but there are also some cases, even the majority, who are leaving state agencies to work outside.
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| Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with a delegation of talented Vietnamese people in the field of science and technology attending the Vietnam Innovation Network Connection Program. Photo: VNA |
According to an employee who transferred from the State to work for a foreign company, “Foreign agencies and enterprises mostly work under contracts and have entrance exams. Therefore, the salary and salary level they pay to recruited workers is commensurate with the ability and qualifications of the workers.”
In offices, “Salary and salary levels are not based on the selection method, but mainly on years of service. Therefore, there is stagnation in work. Because every year and month, salaries are increased. In addition, in foreign companies, if you do not do your job well, you will be fired immediately. Therefore, employees must take the initiative to do their jobs well,” this employee added.Competition to attract talent
The most prominent in attracting talents and contributing to the country in recent times is that the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) on behalf of the Government invited 100 Vietnamese intellectuals abroad to return to the country to work, meet and exchange with domestic ministries, sectors and enterprises to promote innovation and the 4.0 industrial revolution in Vietnam.
To attract talented people, according to Mr. Truong Hai Long, Director of the Department of Civil Servants and Public Employees (Ministry of Home Affairs), currently in the process of implementing Resolution 26 (on focusing on building a team of cadres at all levels, especially at the strategic level, with sufficient qualities, capacity and prestige, equal to the task), attracting and promoting talented people is still the Party's correct policy.
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| A delegation of talented Vietnamese people in the field of science and technology attending the Vietnam Innovation Network Connection Program was welcomed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Photo: VNA |
However, a worker working for a foreign agency said that to attract talented people, there must be a good enough compensation policy and a healthy working environment. To do so, it is necessary to organize public and transparent recruitment for all positions, along with appropriate compensation for each position.
Implement a contract system for all positions and equally important, institutionalize it to create a transparent and fair working culture in the workplace.
To attract talent, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Trong Thua said that the Ministry of Home Affairs was assigned by the Politburo and the Prime Minister to implement Conclusion 86 of the Politburo in 2014. The Government issued Decree 140 in 2017 on policies to attract excellent students and young scientists... When designing and issuing this decree, the Ministry of Home Affairs mentioned the need to truly attract talent and have good treatment to retain talent.Deputy Minister Nguyen Trong Thua added that the candidates to be attracted must be excellent, young, and have a doctorate or master's degree. However, this force is very large, including "paper doctors", "paper masters", many types of training, distance, not concentrated, also doctorates and masters.
To select outstanding people, “These people must have articles published abroad, or scientific research projects evaluated by competent authorities. When studying in high school, they must have won a national prize from 3rd prize or higher... Those who meet the requirements will be given priority for direct recruitment, without having to take exams. Regarding the regime, upon graduation, they will immediately receive the salary of a level 1 senior specialist, and a doctorate will be level 2...”, Deputy Minister Nguyen Trong Thua said.Deputy Minister Nguyen Trong Thua also said that there will be incentives and attraction, especially screening to avoid selecting people who are not really excellent. The policy will be carefully reviewed, during the implementation process, especially in the first year, there will be preliminary assessments.
The Prime Minister has just signed Decision 1016/QD-TTg approving the payroll of civil servants receiving salaries from the State budget.
Accordingly, the total civil servant payroll in 2019 of state administrative agencies and organizations... is 259,598 payrolls.
Of which: Administrative agencies and organizations under ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies under the Government, organizations established by the Government and the Prime Minister that are not public service units have 105,189 positions; administrative agencies and organizations under the People's Councils and People's Committees at provincial and district levels have 151,906 positions; representative agencies of Vietnam abroad have 1,068 positions. Reserve civil servant positions are 749 positions. Total positions of associations with special characteristics operating nationwide are 686 positions.
