Brian Jeffrey
On September 16, a meeting led by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh took place to address a significant issue within the Ministry of Information and Communications.
Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong highlighted ongoing staffing challenges at both the Authority of Radio Frequency Management (ARFM) and the Authority of Telecommunications. Many employees at these agencies have been performing roles typically assigned to civil servants for an extended period. The ministry is seeking guidance from Binh to develop policies that would enable these public workers to officially transition to civil servant status.
In response, Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra stated that her ministry has already briefed the Central Steering Committee on Personnel Management. This committee is expected to prepare a formal report for the Politburo, which has tasked the Central Organizing Committee with finding a solution for converting these public employees into civil servants.
The situation extends beyond the Ministry of Information and Communications, affecting approximately 7,000 public employees across various ministries including Agriculture and Rural Development, Transport, and Science and Technology.
“We are currently reviewing similar situations in other agencies,” Tra added.
Mai Thi Thu Van, Deputy Chair of the Government Office, noted that several organizations carry out both state management and fee-collecting duties. For example, the MIC manages the ARFM, while MOT oversees port authorities and other agencies. Although staff at these entities are designated public employees, their functions align closely with those of civil servants working in governmental organizations.
New regulations require that these departments operate like standard state management agencies rather than public non-business units.
“Will these individuals be compensated as civil servants or retain their status as public employees under the revised financial structure?” Van questioned.
Deputy Minister Truong Hai Long from the MHA confirmed that a review of personnel indicated that these public employees should indeed be regarded as civil servants.
Nonetheless, this shift could complicate efforts to streamline personnel, potentially leading to an increase in the number of state civil servants.
