'Nowadays, wherever we go, we talk about improving the system'

On the morning of August 19, the National Assembly Standing Committee opened its 36th session, giving opinions on the thematic supervision report on the implementation of policies and laws on innovation of the organizational and management system, improving the quality and efficiency of operations of public service units in the 2018-2023 period.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the meeting

Commenting on the report and draft resolution on supervision, Chairman of the Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh said that according to the supervision results, the arrangement and reorganization of public service units were very positive. The number exceeded the set requirements, and the staffing of the units was also reduced compared to the set targets.

Chairman of the Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh expressed his opinion at the meeting.

However, a closer analysis of these results shows that the period before 2021 had very positive results, but from 2021 to 2023, there is a tendency to slow down. "This is similar to the equitization and divestment of state-owned enterprises. Units with conditions and capabilities are doing very quickly and well, but the remaining public service units are facing difficulties and shortcomings," Mr. Thanh acknowledged.

From there, Mr. Thanh suggested that it is necessary to clarify and have drastic solutions such as equitization and divestment of new enterprises to achieve the set goals and tasks.

At the same time, the Chairman of the National Assembly Economic Committee said that out of more than 48,000 public service units, only more than 3,000 are autonomous at level 2 or higher, of which 266 units are autonomous in both regular and investment expenditures. According to him, the rate of autonomous public service units is still very low.

The report of the monitoring delegation presented by Chairman of the Law Committee Hoang Thanh Tung at the meeting said that the arrangement and reorganization of public service units is still mainly mechanical. The speed of arrangement and reorganization of public service units is slowing down in the period of 2021 - 2023.

The reduction of public sector payrolls from the state budget in the 2021-2023 period in localities is low. There is still a leveling off in the implementation of the target of reducing 10% of public sector payrolls.

The implementation of the autonomy mechanism is not sustainable and synchronous; total regular expenditure from the state budget for public service activities still increases every year. At the same time, according to Mr. Tung, the number of public service units under ministries and branches is still large, the transfer to local management is still slow; the work of planning the network of public service units, issuing economic and technical norms still faces many difficulties and obstacles...

Chairman of the Law Committee Hoang Thanh Tung

Solve the mechanical problems in arranging public service units
Giving his opinion, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man assessed that the report of the monitoring delegation pointed out strengths and weaknesses, and at the same time recommended solutions for the coming time in innovating the organization and management system, improving the quality and efficiency of operations of public service units.

According to the National Assembly Chairman, in the recent renovation of the organizational and management system, improving the quality and efficiency of public service units, many things have been slow, from institutionalizing the policies of the Party and the State, to transferring public service units from the Central to the local level. Therefore, he requested that the report clarify which locality, ministry, branch, and unit is slow.

"In reality, if something above cannot be handled and transferred to the locality, but the locality does not have human resources or funding, transferring it is useless," the National Assembly Chairman said, citing the example of a hospital that should be managed by the Central Government but the Central Government could not manage it and wanted to hand it over to the province, but the province was afraid that it could not manage it so it refused, so up to now it has not been handled.

Regarding solutions, the National Assembly Chairman said that the monitoring delegation proposed three groups of solutions, including institutional improvement, implementation organization, and resource assurance. However, he suggested that all three groups of solutions, especially institutional improvement, must be carefully reviewed.

"Nowadays, wherever we go, we talk about perfecting the system. What to perfect and where to perfect must be pointed out. The National Assembly decides on laws based on the ministries, branches, the Government submits them to the National Assembly, the two sides discuss, but when talking, they blame the National Assembly for making the law difficult and difficult to implement," the National Assembly Chairman frankly said.

With 9 solutions, the National Assembly Chairman also suggested that further review is needed. "I wonder whether the solutions are strong and comprehensive enough to thoroughly resolve and completely overcome the shortcomings and limitations pointed out in the monitoring delegation's report?", the National Assembly Chairman said.

The National Assembly Chairman proposed to study and resolve three main bottlenecks. The first is to resolve the mechanical nature of the arrangement and organization of public service units. The second is to ensure sustainability and synchronization in implementing the autonomy mechanism of public service units. The last is to simplify administrative procedures in establishing non-public service units, creating equality with enterprises and state-owned units in the ability to access resources in the market.

Source: https://moha.gov.vn/tintuc/Pages/danh-sach-tin-noi-bat.aspx?ItemID=56309