Continuing to reorganize commune-level administrative units is an important part of the organizational streamlining revolution, bringing many clear benefits. This is an inevitable task to promote local development.

Streamline the apparatus

Tan Huong Commune (Ninh Giang) was merged from Tan Huong Commune and Ninh Thanh Commune from December 1, 2019. Before the merger, the two old communes had 42 officials and civil servants. When Tan Huong Commune first came into operation, there were 26 officials and civil servants, a decrease of 16 people. Up to now, Tan Huong Commune has 21 officials and civil servants, ensuring regulations.

According to Ms. Dao Thi Yen, Chairwoman of Tan Huong Commune People's Committee, local practice shows that the merger of communes has significantly reduced the number of cadres, civil servants, and non-professional workers without much affecting the quality of work. "In personnel work, the Party Committee and the Commune People's Committee clearly define the responsibilities and tasks of each position in the operating apparatus to select suitable cadres. Personnel work is carried out publicly, objectively, and impartially, ensuring internal unity and solidarity. Up to now, all local work has been going smoothly, meeting the requirements and serving the people and businesses well."

The reality in Tan Huong commune is also the general situation in commune-level administrative units of Hai Duong. After implementing the arrangement of commune-level administrative units in the period of 2019 - 2021, up to now, most localities no longer have redundant officials and civil servants. For localities that have just implemented it in the period of 2023 - 2025, the number of redundant officials and civil servants is not too much.

Before implementing Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017 of the 12th Party Central Committee on a number of issues on continuing to innovate and reorganize the political system to be streamlined and operate effectively and efficiently, Hai Duong province had 265 commune-level administrative units. Currently, the province has 207 units, a decrease of 58 units, of which 30 units will be reduced in the 2019-2021 period; 28 administrative units will be reduced in the 2023-2025 period. At the same time, the province has reduced 323 cadres and 513 commune-level civil servants.

In the coming time, with the implementation of further reduction of about 100 commune-level administrative units along with better mechanisms and policies for cadres and civil servants affected by the reorganization, the number of commune-level cadres and civil servants will certainly continue to be further streamlined.

Serve people better

Compared to the previous two phases, the current implementation of the arrangement of commune-level administrative units is being carried out on a larger scale. This is truly a revolution in streamlining the apparatus when the arrangement of commune-level administrative units is carried out simultaneously with the policy of ending the activities of the district level and moving towards merging provinces and cities.

In the period of 2023 - 2025, Gia Loc is the locality that will merge the most commune-level administrative units in Hai Duong province with 8 communes merging into 4 communes. These are Gia Tien commune (merging 2 communes Tan Tien and Gia Luong); Gia Phuc (merging 2 communes Gia Tan and Gia Khanh); Nhat Quang (merging 2 communes Nhat Tan and Dong Quang) and Quang Duc commune (merging 2 communes Quang Minh and Duc Xuong).

After 4 months of operation, the new communes have gradually operated stably and effectively. Comrade Dang Xuan Thuong, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the District Party Committee, Chairman of the Gia Loc District People's Council, said that the policy of rearranging commune-level administrative units with larger scale and abolishing the district level at this time is very correct, certainly bringing many benefits and efficiency. That is to streamline the apparatus, save regular expenses, create convenience for people and businesses, and expand space and resources for localities to develop. "When the apparatus is streamlined, higher work requirements require improving the quality of cadres, thereby purging weak cadres from the organization and apparatus", Comrade Dang Xuan Thuong commented.

Agreeing with the above viewpoint, Mr. Luong Anh Te, former Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hai Duong province, Chairman of the Provincial Elderly Association, said that the policy of abolishing the district level is very correct. According to Mr. Te, in the past, the district level model was suitable. But now technology is very developed, most administrative procedures can be processed online by people and businesses. The district level becomes an intermediate level, which can slow down the progress of implementation and execution of tasks and work, so ending the operation is appropriate. "On the basis of abolishing the district level, expanding the scale of communes to manage and resolve work is inevitable. This is truly a revolution that is suitable for the shift of the times, requiring the government, cadres and people to adapt," Mr. Te commented.

Create development momentum

Along with streamlining and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the organizational apparatus at the grassroots level, implementing the arrangement of commune-level administrative units will expand space and integrate the advantages of localities to promote socio-economic development.

Cam Giang Town (Cam Giang) is a locality that has merged twice. In 2019, Cam Giang Town merged with Kim Giang Commune to form Cam Giang Town. In 2024, Cam Giang Town continued to merge with Thach Loi Commune. From a town established in 1958 with limited development space, after 2 mergers, Cam Giang today has expanded its area from 0.47 km² to 10.5 km². The town's population has also increased from 2,400 people to nearly 14,000 people.

According to comrade Pham Thanh Tung, Secretary of the Cam Giang Town Party Committee, the large area facilitates the overall planning work and helps the local development vision to be expanded and more sustainable. The communes merged into the town are no longer limited to agricultural development but are oriented towards developing services and other industries. “According to the general planning of the expanded town, the locality will have an additional new residential area with public works with a total area of ​​45 hectares. When implemented, this will be a new driving force to promote the socio-economic development of the locality and neighboring areas,” added the Secretary of the Cam Giang Town Party Committee.

With many benefits and advantages, the policy of merging commune-level administrative units has received high consensus from cadres, party members, and people in Hai Duong province. However, to effectively implement the above policy, there are also many issues that need to be proactively resolved.