On May 25, on behalf of the Politburo, Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu signed Conclusion No. 157 outlining the implementation of Central Committee and Politburo resolutions and conclusions on the reorganization of administrative units and state apparatus.

Conclusion No. 157 states that the Politburo requires all Party committees and organizations to maintain strong ideological guidance, proactively monitor public sentiment, anticipate risks, and promptly address emerging complex issues.

It emphasized ensuring internal unity and a smooth transition for newly structured administrative bodies to operate effectively and efficiently.

The Politburo assigned designated leaders to convene and co-chair meetings with provincial and municipal Party secretaries of the regions undergoing mergers.

They are to strictly implement the Party's directives regarding the drafting of Party Congress documents at all levels, the development of personnel plans for newly merged provincial-level and commune-level Party Committees, and to completely avoid localism, vested interests, and negative influences.

These leaders are also to lead the drafting of Party Congress documents for the newly established provinces and cities.

The Standing Committees of the relevant provincial and municipal Party Committees were instructed to actively prepare necessary conditions and organize processes and procedures to transfer functions and duties from district-level to commune-level authorities. This implementation must begin immediately after the new legal documents take effect on July 1.

The restructured apparatus at the provincial and commune levels must operate in a coordinated, uninterrupted, and effective manner. No interruption in public services, administrative operations, or local governance is to be tolerated.

The new commune-level structures are expected to be operational by July 1, with completion targeted before July 15. Provincial-level restructuring should be finalized by August 15.

The Politburo strictly forbids any influence or interference in the personnel arrangement process and mandates strict handling of violations, if any occur.

Temporary staffing guidelines for commune-level government bodies due by May

The Politburo tasked the Party Committee of the Government to expedite the drafting of decrees on decentralization, delegation of authority, and defining responsibilities for local governments at two levels.

This includes regulations on functions, duties, and the organizational structure of specialized agencies under the People’s Committees at the provincial and commune levels, with particular focus on decentralization.

The Politburo has ordered that temporary staffing guidelines for specialized agencies at commune, ward, and special administrative units be completed within May.

These guidelines will form the basis for determining job positions and allocating personnel quotas to localities, ensuring that within five years, staffing levels align with quotas set by competent authorities.

Additionally, relevant agencies are to review and issue timely instructions for the implementation or transitional management of tasks during the reorganization of provincial and commune-level administrative units and the conclusion of district-level governments.

This supports the formation of two-tier local governments and must be completed by June 5, ensuring seamless and uninterrupted operations.

The Party Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs was assigned to lead the issuance of regulations and guidelines concerning qualifications for commune, ward, and special administrative unit officials.

This includes a plan for training and professional development, as well as support policies for non-specialized officials at the commune level. This task must be completed by June 15.

The Politburo also tasked the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and central mass organizations to direct the Party Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to issue instructions for ending union activities in administrative agencies, armed forces, and fully state-funded public units. This aligns with the constitutional and legal reforms related to trade unions.

The Central Organization Commission is responsible for collecting feedback from central agencies, Party bodies, and lower-level Party Committees.

It must urgently finalize proposals and submit them to the Politburo and Secretariat for decisions on the functions, duties, and structures of Party Committees at commune, ward, and special unit levels, as well as the advisory and administrative units under them.

It must also work with relevant agencies and the Party Committees of provinces and cities undergoing mergers to finalize personnel plans for provincial-level Party Committees and submit them to the Politburo and Secretariat for approval by June 20 (with a target of completion by June 15).

Tran Thuong