The problem needs to be addressed effectively at the grassroots level.

The Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province recently held a social critique conference on the draft plan for rearranging administrative units at the district and commune levels in the province for the period 2023-2025. Photo: VG

Request for assistance with document conversion.

Evidence regarding the unresolved issues and consequences of the administrative unit reorganization at the commune level in the province during the 2019-2021 period was raised by many delegates at the review meeting on the draft plan for the reorganization of district and commune-level administrative units in the province during the 2023-2025 period.

According to Ms. Cao Thi Thanh Nga, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Que My commune (Que Son district), four years after the merger of Que Cuong and Phu Tho communes, residents of the commune have not received financial support to adjust their documents to reflect the new administrative unit name. This has led to inconveniences and difficulties for residents in administrative transactions.

Specifically, people using health insurance for medical examinations and treatment are not being reimbursed because their information has not been updated to reflect the name of Que My commune. During the period of 2019-2021, the district's commune merger plan and central government regulations stipulated financial support for updating information on various documents, including land ownership certificates ("red books") for residents.

However, during the implementation process, this funding source was not supported, leading to apprehension among some people regarding the implementation of the district-level administrative unit merger plan for the 2023-2025 period. This is also the reason why the percentage of voters in Que Son district agreeing with the merger plan between Que Son and Nong Son districts has not reached the desired level (only over 91%).

"The current administrative unit reorganization plan should clearly state that, for the merged administrative units, the provincial level will calculate and allocate 100% of the funding to support people in converting relevant documents. This will create favorable conditions for changing document information and meet the aspirations of the people after the merger," Ms. Nga proposed.

In the provincial People's Committee's draft budget for the merger of district and commune-level administrative units in the 2023-2025 period, four expenditure categories are mentioned, with a total estimated budget of 90 billion VND. However, this total budget does not include any expenditure for supporting organizations and individuals when converting administrative documents and procedures according to the new administrative unit names after the reorganization.

Therefore, many opinions suggest that the draft plan should include a budget allocation to support this content. This reflects the aspirations of the people, clearly stated in the resolutions of the People's Councils at the commune and district levels, which endorse the policy of merging administrative units in the 2023-2025 period.

Mr. Phan Khac Chuong, Chairman of the Provincial Lawyers Association, stated that the merger of administrative units did not originate from a request by the people, but rather from a policy of the Party and the State, and was implemented with the people's consensus.

Accordingly, the State must take responsibility for changing all documents of the (old) district and commune to the new district and commune-level administrative units. It cannot force people to pay money to convert documents or resolve related administrative procedures…

Effectively address the issue of surplus staff.

The plan and roadmap for the placement and arrangement of officials, civil servants, and employees after the reorganization of administrative units have been clearly outlined in the draft proposal. Commenting on this content, Mr. Le Tan Trung, former Secretary of the Que Son District Party Committee, assessed that the draft was meticulously and detailedly prepared, but some contents were unclear and would be difficult to implement.

According to Mr. Trung, regarding those holding the positions of Party Secretary at the district and commune levels, and Chairman of the People's Committee at the district and commune levels, the plan states: After the restructuring, surplus personnel will be assigned as deputy positions or transferred to other communes within the district that are lacking personnel to complete the process.

Accordingly, this content needs to be supplemented to make it more feasible: "or transfer to the province or to other adjacent districts if they meet the conditions and standards." Because Resolution 35 dated July 12, 2023, of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and Guidance 26 of the Central Organization Committee dated November 30, 2023, both stipulate that the maximum time for resolving redundant personnel issues is no more than 60 months. The organizational structure must revert to the prescribed framework. If the province does not cooperate with the district, the feasibility of stabilizing the new administrative unit's organizational structure within 5 years will be very difficult.

According to Mr. Trung, the increase in the number of deputy secretaries of district and commune Party committees and deputy chairmen of district and commune People's Committees in the new administrative units after the merger is only a short-term solution. What about the long-term future over the next 60 months?

Accordingly, Mr. Trung proposed adding provisions for reassignment to provinces and adjacent districts if the conditions and standards are met. Similarly, he suggested adding provisions in this direction for officials and civil servants at the district and commune levels.

"If we leave it to the district to handle the issue on its own, it won't be able to cope with the huge surplus of staff. Meanwhile, their age, qualifications, conditions, and abilities are very good, and they cannot be dismissed yet. The province's involvement will create favorable conditions for the district level, because the authority to recruit and assign civil servants and public employees after recruitment belongs to the provincial level," Mr. Trung said.

Agreeing strongly with the view that the province needs to support localities in resolving the issue of surplus personnel according to a 5-year roadmap as discussed by many, Mr. Nguyen Phi Hung - Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province said: "In order to be able to arrange, organize, and select capable personnel from the surplus, the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department and the Department of Internal Affairs need to coordinate to advise the Provincial Party Standing Committee to issue guidelines and procedures for reviewing, evaluating, classifying, and assigning personnel to the newly established district-level administrative units."

Mr. Nguyen Phi Hung, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province, stated that the draft plan for rearranging administrative units at the district and commune levels in the province for the period 2023-2024 has received high consensus from most voters.

Except for Tien Son commune, where 84.78% of voters agreed, the remaining communes and districts subject to restructuring all achieved 91% or higher approval rates. This shows that the draft plan was carefully prepared, ensuring the necessary conditions for organizing a review meeting.

"Regarding the projected budget for implementation, I agree with the delegates' opinions. The draft does not yet fully address the issue of covering 100% of the costs incurred when citizens update information on relevant documents. The drafting agency needs to incorporate these suggestions and refine the draft accordingly..." Mr. Hung said.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/gop-y-du-thao-sap-xep-don-vi-hanh-chinh-บน-dia-ban-quang-nam-can-giai-quyet-tot-van-de-tu-co-so-3136955.html