Vinh City: Significant reduction in staffing and unification of departmental-level positions.

Streamline the organizational structure.

On May 2, 2019, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Decision No. 1417/QD-UBND establishing the Vinh City Culture, Sports and Communication Center by merging two units: the Culture and Sports Center and the Radio and Television Station. Thus, as of now, the city has reduced the number of public service units from 14 to 13.

City leaders present flowers to congratulate the Board of Directors of the Vinh City Center for Culture, Sports and Communications. Photo: Mai Hoa.

In addition, Vinh City has also focused on reorganizing the internal structure of public service units. As of December 2018, schools had reorganized their internal structures to ensure streamlined and efficient operation, reducing the number of departments and offices from 331 in 2015 to 165, a reduction of 166 internal organizations.

Simultaneously with the above process, the city also implemented models for unifying positions. Accordingly, in June 2018, the unification of the position of Head of the City Party Committee's Propaganda Department and Director of the Political Training Center was completed, thereby reducing one Director position at the center.

Specifically, Comrade Ngo Thi Huong - Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Propaganda Department of Vinh City Party Committee - was assigned to simultaneously hold the position of Director of the City's Political Training Center from September 12, 2018, according to Decision No. 642-QD/ThU dated September 11, 2018, of the Vinh City Party Committee.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Do, Director of the City's Political Training Center, has been assigned to the position of Deputy Director of the City's Political Training Center.

During the period 2019-2021, Vinh City had no wards or communes subject to merger: Thanh Duy

In 2019, the city plans to unify two more positions: the Chairman of the City Party Committee's Inspection Committee also serving as the Chief Inspector (expected to be implemented from September 2019) and the Head of the City Party Committee's Organization Department also serving as the Head of the Internal Affairs Department (expected to be implemented from September 2019).

Reduce the number of employees.

Le Mao Ward is one of the pioneering units in implementing the reorganization of positions, including the team of non-specialized officials at the commune level. Accordingly, based on the conclusions of higher authorities, the ward has implemented the assignment of dual roles. For example, Comrade Hoang Thi Hoai Huyen, the Deputy Head of the Ward Party Committee's Inspection Committee, has been assigned to concurrently hold the position of Deputy Chairperson of the Ward Fatherland Front Committee.

In addition, several other positions are also held concurrently, such as: cultural officer also working in broadcasting; Deputy Secretary of the Ward Youth Union also serving as Chairman of the Red Cross Society; land administration officer also serving as Head of the Urban Regulations Team…

Comrade Nguyen Tam Ky, Chairman of the People's Committee of Le Mao Ward, said that with the above arrangement, the ward has reduced the number of non-specialized officials by 5, from 12 to 7. In the blocks, the number of residential groups has also been merged and reduced from 98 to 54, belonging to 9 blocks.

Leaders of Le Mao ward discuss work with part-time officials. Photo: Thanh Duy

Through the arrangement of combining multiple positions, the number of staff in the department was reduced by 54 people. However, because each staff member understood their responsibilities, the work continued smoothly without affecting quality, while the total amount of allowances paid also decreased compared to before.

Not only in Le Mao ward, but in all 25 wards and communes of Vinh City, the city has directed the rational reorganization of non-specialized officials. Currently, the wards and communes have assigned 360 non-specialized personnel, of which 165 are assigned to hold multiple positions, accounting for 31.4% (39 people hold two additional positions and 112 people hold one additional position).

Thus, the number of part-time ward and commune officials was reduced by 165 compared to the prescribed number (a reduction of 31.4% compared to the maximum number allocated).

Similarly, in 371 blocks and hamlets, 1,611 non-professional personnel were assigned, a reduction of 244 people compared to the prescribed number (a reduction of 13.15% compared to the maximum number assigned).

Specifically, 17 Party branch secretaries have been appointed who also serve as block/hamlet leaders; and 189 Party branch secretaries who also serve as heads of the Fatherland Front working committees in blocks/hamlets.

In addition, Vinh City is also reducing the number of heads and deputy heads of agencies and units. In 2017, the city had a total of 179 heads of agencies and units, and to date, 3 have been reduced, with an additional reduction of 1 in September. In 2017, the city had a total of 261 deputy heads of agencies and units, from vice chairmen of commune People's Committees upwards.

Following the directive of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on reducing the number of deputy heads in agencies and units (departments and units with fewer than 10 people will appoint 1 deputy head, those with more than 10 people will appoint 2 deputy heads), the city has seriously implemented the directive.

As a result, over the past period, nine departments and units throughout the city have implemented the reduction of deputy positions in accordance with regulations, such as: the City People's Council reducing from two Vice Chairmen to one; the City Party Committee's Organization Department reducing from three deputy heads to two. To date, the city has reduced the number of deputy heads in agencies and units from 261 to 247 (a reduction of 14 people).

From 2015 to the present, the entire city has streamlined 284 positions for officials, civil servants, and public employees (including 145 who retired under Decree 108).

Comrade Nguyen Van Chinh, Head of the Vinh City Party Committee's Organization Department, stated: With high political determination, without waiting for results, but cautiously and scientifically, with a clear roadmap, doing what is clear and piloting what is unclear, after one year, the reorganization of the organizational structure, downsizing of personnel, and restructuring of the city's cadres, civil servants, and public employees have achieved certain results, ensuring improved effectiveness and efficiency. In particular, the city has paid close attention to the reorganization of public service units and units with overlapping or conflicting functions and tasks.

Officials from the Vinh City Urban Management Department are handling their duties. Photo: Thanh Duy

Besides the achievements, to make the implementation process more effective, Vinh City proposes that the competent authorities promptly amend and supplement resolutions and decisions on the number of positions and allowances for part-time officials at the commune and hamlet/village levels; the support level for permanent members of the Fatherland Front Committee and members of the Standing Committee of mass organizations at the commune level; and simultaneously issue regulations on policies, concurrent duties, and mechanisms for allocating funds to officials, civil servants, and part-time officials at the commune and hamlet/village levels.

On the other hand, the merger of some units in the Health and Agriculture sectors also needs to be implemented soon in accordance with the policy of consolidation and transfer to district-level management in order to stabilize the operations of these units as soon as possible.