Vietnam to cut at least one-fifth of public workforce in major overhaul
The Vietnamese Government plans to reduce the civil service workforce by at least 20% as part of an ongoing administrative reform initiative aimed at streamlining the state apparatus while maintaining the quality of services.

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Government plans to reduce the civil service workforce by at least 20% as part of an ongoing administrative reform initiative aimed at streamlining the state apparatus while maintaining the quality of services.

Under her recently-issued document, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra, a member of the Government’s steering committee on reviewing the implementation of the 12th Party Central Committee's Resolution No.18-NQ/TW, which seeks to streamline the political system for greater efficiency, stated that the Government issued Decree No.178/2024/ND-CP on December 31, outlining policies and regimes for officials, civil servants, public employees, and military personnel involved in the restructuring of the state apparatus.

To ensure the successful implementation of these reforms, the Government's steering committee called for comprehensive political education and awareness campaigns. These efforts will help public servants, especially those directly affected, understand the broader benefits of the restructuring. It also stresses the need to prioritise collective interests over personal considerations and to recognise and reward individuals and organisations that make significant contributions to the reorganisation process.

The decree also urged the urgent development and issuance of specific criteria tailored to the characteristics and circumstances of each ministry, agency, sector, and locality. Additionally, responsibility for workforce assessments and layoff decisions will lie with Party organisations, administrative bodies, and the heads of organizations that directly manage civil servants.

Effective January 1, Decree No.178 introduces eight key policy areas, including early retirement incentives, leadership transition policies, grassroots work adjustments, talent retention programs, training initiatives for remaining staff, and provisions for military and security personnel./.

See Also

PM urges choosing optimal solutions to political system re-organisation

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 2 chaired the 7th meeting of the Government's steering committee for the review of the implementation of Resolution No. 18/NQ-TW adopted by the 12th Party Central Committee in 2017 which aims to continue reform and re-organise the political system to ensure that it is streamlined and operates more efficiently and effectively.

Party General Secretary highlights Vietnam's aspiration to rise in new era

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam has granted an interview to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the occasion of the Lunar New Year of the Snake 2025 and the 95th founding anniversary of the CPV (February 3, 1930 – 2025). The following is a translation of the interview:

Party chief commends progress in Party inspection, supervision, discipline work

Party General Secretary To Lam has lauded Party committees and inspection commissions at all levels for their achievements in the Party inspection and supervision work since the beginning of the tenure and throughout 2024, saying that they have been contributing to fortifying the Party building and rectification, ensuring a strong and clean political system and bolstering the trust of officials, Party members and citizens in the Party.