Salary reform associated with improving the quality of cadres and civil servants

Accordingly, the macro economy is basically stable, inflation is under control, major balances of the economy are basically guaranteed. Public debt, government debt, and budget deficit are under control; many key and important national transport infrastructure projects are being focused on to accelerate the implementation progress. The monetary and credit markets are basically stable, interest rates have decreased. Institutional building and improvement work continues to be promoted. The fight against corruption and negativity continues to receive attention and drastic direction; focusing on doing well the work of ensuring social security, labor, employment, and improving people's lives. There have been many changes in the fields of culture and education; national defense and security have been maintained. Foreign affairs activities have been promoted, international prestige and position have been enhanced.

Urgently arrange district and commune level units

Basically agreeing with the Government's report, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh pointed out that the socio-economic situation has made much progress, which is a positive sign, but the ability to complete the 2023 plan targets as well as implement the 5-year plan is very difficult, requiring high determination.

The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly noted that, according to the plan, salary reform under Resolution No. 27-NQ/TW will be implemented from July 1, 2024. “Resolution No. 27-NQ/TW clearly states: salary reform is associated with improving the quality and responsibility of cadres and civil servants. These two things go together, so it is necessary to review and rearrange cadres and civil servants, and take measures to deal with those who lack a sense of responsibility, work half-heartedly, push things around, and avoid work,” the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly emphasized.

Referring to an important task in 2024, which is to continue to reorganize district and commune-level units according to the Central Resolution, the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly said that it is expected that 35 districts and over 1,000 communes will be reorganized and merged. On this issue, the Politburo has concluded, the National Assembly Standing Committee has issued a resolution, and the Government has a plan to implement it nationwide. However, reports show that some localities are behind schedule. Therefore, the Government needs to urge, supervise, and ensure that procedures are completed in the third quarter and submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee for approval to begin implementation from the fourth quarter of 2023.

The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly noted that this issue must be urgently implemented, because in the first quarter of 2025, the Party Congresses at the commune level will begin, and in the second quarter, the Party Congresses at the district level. If the arrangement is not completed, it will affect the work of perfecting the organizational apparatus for the next term.

Regarding the National Assembly Standing Committee's supervision of the implementation of legal policies on public service units, the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly emphasized that this is a major issue. According to the Government's Report, the policy mechanisms for public service units have not been completed synchronously, many current documents are slow such as: the list of public service units using the State budget; technical and economic norms; price framework for each type of public service; planning the network of public service units by industry and field... Therefore, the Government needs to step up the completion of policy mechanisms for public service units to serve the supervision and implementation of the Central Resolution.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council Y Thanh Ha Nie Kdam agreed with the salary reform roadmap, but suggested that attention should be paid to ensuring appropriate income for grassroots officials across sectors and fields, corresponding to their responsibilities. "Avoid having high incomes and low incomes but the same tasks," Y Thanh Ha Nie Kdam noted.

The Chairman of the Council of Nationalities believes that it is not only necessary to innovate methods and approaches, but also to design specific, practical and effective mechanisms to promote the implementation of socio-economic development plans as well as national target programs.

Emphasizing the importance of strengthening people's trust, ensuring national defense and security, especially in mountainous, remote, and border areas, the Chairman of the Council of Ethnic Minorities suggested that it is necessary to prevent the seeds of complications and dangers to security and order; focus on ensuring the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, focusing on creating livelihoods, supporting land and housing, and helping people have stable incomes.

Determined to achieve the highest targets in 2023

At the meeting, Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Judicial Committee Le Thi Nga emphasized a number of issues that need attention in the field of security and order. Specifically, the problem of fire and explosion has long been complicated. The fire at a mini apartment building in Hanoi showed that there are still loopholes in fire prevention work. "After each fire, that area is reviewed, like a karaoke fire, there were a series of directives to review, now the mini apartment fire is being reviewed again. Fire prevention work is not done well. When a fire occurs in a high-rise apartment building, the consequences are unpredictable. The 14th National Assembly has conducted supervision on this issue, so it is recommended that the National Assembly's Defense and Security Committee review the resolution and propose that the Government strengthen the solutions proposed in the resolution," Ms. Le Thi Nga pointed out.

The Chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee noted that social network fraud occurs every day with a large number of people being scammed. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen social network management and warn people to be aware and prevent it. In addition, child abuse and kidnapping are causing outrage, so it is necessary to strengthen management and strictly handle them. Ms. Le Thi Nga also reflected on the current situation of using laughing gas and electronic cigarettes mixed with drugs among teenagers and students.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment Le Quang Huy expressed concern that as of September 2023, labor productivity had only increased by 4.8%, making it difficult to achieve the set target of 5% - 6%. International experts and scientists assessed that if productivity increased by only 1%, it would have a huge impact on GDP growth.

Emphasizing that human resources are the internal driving force and core of the economy, Mr. Le Quang Huy said that for the three strategic breakthroughs, two factors, namely institutions and infrastructure, have been actively and effectively implemented, but the breakthrough in human resources is not really clear despite being given attention. Therefore, the Government needs to identify bottlenecks to have specific solutions, associated with programs and projects to improve the quality of human resources associated with scientific and technological solutions.

Commenting at the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue noted the balance of the contents in the report, requesting agencies to continue reviewing, "filtering the muddy water to bring out the clear water", highlighting the results achieved to see the efforts of the agencies in 2023. The report needs to emphasize that foreign affairs including foreign affairs of the Party, National Assembly, Government, and people-to-people exchanges are promoted, proactively and synchronously deployed, smoothly and enthusiastically coordinated with outgoing and incoming delegations, contributing to socio-economic development, creating prestige and position for Vietnam in the international arena.

The National Assembly Chairman noted that in the coming time, the spirit is to strive to fulfill the highest tasks and targets of 2023, comprehensively complete the 2024 plan, contributing to the completion of the tasks of the entire term. The Government needs to focus on solving short-term, urgent issues that the Resolution of the 5th Session of the 15th National Assembly, the conclusions of the Central Committee, and the Politburo have clearly pointed out; at the same time, it must be associated with long-term goals such as restructuring the economy, improving productivity, quality, and competitiveness of the economy, etc., and long-term development goals.