CaliToday (09/8/2025): Vietnam's Ministry of Home Affairs has formally announced that it will soon issue specific guidelines to regulate and reorganize the country's extensive public sector workforce. The strategic initiative is designed to address staffing imbalances and enhance the overall operational efficiency of the state administrative apparatus.
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| Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra |
The core of the plan involves a systematic reallocation of personnel, moving civil servants (công chức) and public employees (viên chức) from government agencies, departments, and localities that are overstaffed to those that are currently operating with a deficit of approved payroll positions (biên chế).
This move targets a long-standing challenge within Vietnam's public administration: a mismatch between human resource distribution and actual operational needs. While some urban departments or established agencies may have a surplus of personnel, many rural, remote, or newly established sectors often face chronic shortages, impacting the quality and speed of public service delivery.
In its announcement, the Ministry stated that the goal is to "ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the state machinery." This reform aims to optimize the use of state-funded human resources, ensuring that skilled personnel are placed where they are most needed.
The forthcoming directives are expected to provide a comprehensive framework for this complex process, likely detailing:
- Methods for Identifying Surpluses and Deficits: Clear criteria for how government bodies will assess their staffing levels against their approved quotas and mandated tasks.
- The Reallocation Process: Procedures for the transparent and fair transfer of personnel, including selection criteria and inter-agency coordination.
- Support Policies: Potential incentives or support mechanisms for employees who are required to relocate, which could include housing, travel allowances, or professional development opportunities.
This initiative is a significant step in Vietnam's broader Public Administration Reform (PAR) agenda, which seeks to build a modern, transparent, and high-performing government. By ensuring a more rational distribution of its workforce, the government aims to strengthen governance, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and improve its responsiveness to the needs of citizens and businesses.
While the full details are pending the official release of the guidelines, the announcement signals a determined effort by the government to right-size its workforce and build a more agile and effective public sector for the future. The Ministry of Home Affairs is expected to finalize and circulate the detailed instructions in the near future.
