The 2025 Civil Servants Law took effect on July 1 accompanied by four government decrees, institutionalizing the Party’s policy on innovating cadre management, and gradually building a dynamic, effective public service dedicated to serving the people.

The 2025 Civil Servants Law, passed by the National Assembly on June 24, aligns with the spirit of the Politburo’s resolutions 57, 59, 66, and 68, creating a legal framework for civil servant management, aiming to build a professional, efficient civil service that meets the demands of socio-economic development and public needs.

Based on the law’s provisions, the government tasked the Ministry of Home Affairs with drafting four guiding decrees, effective from July 1 alongside the law.

Decree 170 outlines civil servant recruitment, use, and management. With six chapters and 73 articles, it specifies the innovative contents in civil servant management with job positions put at the center.

Civil servants are recruited, planned, and appointed, based on job requirements and performance results. The decree specifies standards and procedures for competitive recruitment, selection, and onboarding, including for high-quality personnel and leadership roles.

The decree eliminates national civil servant entry quality assessments and promotion exams for rank upgrading, reducing administrative procedures and promoting decentralization in recruitment and utilization. 

It also defines principles for assigning civil servants tied to the responsibilities of agency heads, along with cases for rank transitions based on job positions.

Decree 171 regulates civil servant training, with seven chapters and 42 articles. It mandates training aligned with job positions, emphasizing self-learning and tailored programs. Civil servants in leadership roles must undergo training in state management knowledge and skills post-appointment.

The decree promotes decentralization in training, enhances technology application and digital transformation, and abolishes mandatory training based on civil servant rank standards.

Decree 172 addresses disciplinary measures for cadres and civil servants. With five chapters and 30 articles, it removes demotion as a disciplinary action for civil servant leaders and salary grade reduction for non-managerial civil servants. It ensures consistency between administrative and Party disciplinary measures, leveraging civil servant evaluation results effectively.

Decree 173 regulates contracts on the performance of civil service duties. This is an important new mechanism to attract talent outside the state administrative system. Consisting of three chapters and 16 articles, the decree regulates the signing of contracts for the performance of a number of civil service duties, especially strategic and urgent leadership and management positions. Contracts can be signed with leading experts, managers, lawyers and outstanding businesspeople.

Thanh Hue