The Ministry of Home Affairs has just announced the basic new points of Decree No. 33 dated June 10, 2023 of the Government regulating commune-level cadres, civil servants and non-professional workers at the commune, village and residential group levels.

Accordingly, one of the new points of the Decree is that it does not stipulate the title of chief of commune police (because regular police have been arranged at the commune level).

Regarding the number of commune-level cadres, civil servants and part-time workers at the commune level, the Decree supplements regulations to increase (without maximum control) the number of commune-level civil servants and part-time workers at commune-level administrative units with population size and natural area higher than the standards prescribed in Resolution No. 1211/2016 (amended and supplemented in Resolution No. 27 of the National Assembly Standing Committee).

According to current regulations, on the basis of the total number of commune-level cadres and civil servants according to current regulations (for type I - II - III wards, the corresponding number is 23 - 21 - 19 people, for type I - II - III communes and towns, the corresponding number is 22 - 20 - 18 people) and the total number of non-professional workers at the commune level according to current regulations (for type I - II - III communes, the corresponding number is 14 - 12 - 10 people).

The new Decree stipulates the number of cadres and civil servants according to population size and natural area.

Specifically, according to population size, for wards in districts, for every increase of 1/3 of the prescribed level, 1 civil servant and 1 non-professional worker can be added; for the remaining administrative units, for every increase of 1/2 of the prescribed level, 1 civil servant and 1 non-professional worker can be added;

According to natural area, in addition to increasing civil servants and non-professional workers according to the above population size, each commune-level administrative unit that increases by 100% of the prescribed level can increase by 1 civil servant and 1 non-professional worker;

The Decree stipulates the implementation of the contract for each locality (provincial level) and decentralizes the provincial People's Committee to submit to the People's Council of the same level to decide on the specific number of commune-level cadres, civil servants and part-time workers at the commune level of each district-level administrative unit under its management in accordance with practical requirements. However, it must ensure that it does not exceed the total number of commune-level cadres, civil servants and part-time workers at the commune level calculated for the whole province according to this regulation.

Based on the total number of cadres, civil servants and non-professional workers at the commune level assigned by the Provincial People's Council, the District People's Committee shall decide on the number and specific arrangement of cadres, civil servants and non-professional workers at each commune-level administrative unit in accordance with practical requirements, but must ensure that it does not exceed the total number of cadres, civil servants and non-professional workers at the commune level assigned by the Provincial People's Council to the district level.

Regarding the number of part-time workers in villages and residential groups, the Ministry of Home Affairs informed that villages and residential groups are self-governing organizations of residential communities, not a level of government. The Decree continues to stipulate 3 positions of part-time workers (including Party cell secretary, village or residential group leader, and head of the Fatherland Front Working Committee) and those directly participating in activities in villages and residential groups.

At the same time, decentralize to the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the People's Council of the same level to specify the titles and number of people directly participating in activities in villages and residential groups under their management in accordance with practical requirements;

Another new point informed by the Ministry of Home Affairs is that the Decree clearly stipulates the standards (competency framework from university level or higher, except in cases where the law or organization's charter provides otherwise) and tasks (job description) of each position, title (job position) of commune-level officials and civil servants.

In case of being a commune-level official or civil servant who does not yet meet the standards, the transitional provisions stipulate that within 5 years from the effective date of the Decree, he/she must meet the prescribed standards.

If the prescribed standards are not met by this deadline, the retirement regime (if eligible) will be implemented or the staff reduction policy will be implemented according to the Government's regulations. This Decree takes effect from August 1, 2023 .