Prime Minister appointed Head of Government's Streamlining Committee

On November 16, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Decision No. 1403 to establish the Steering Committee on summarizing the implementation of Resolution No. 18 of the 6th Central Conference, 12th tenure "Some issues on continuing to innovate and reorganize the apparatus of the political system to be streamlined and operate effectively and efficiently" (Steering Committee).

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh is the Deputy Head of the Steering Committee. The 9 members of the Steering Committee include: Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha; Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long; Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc; Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son; Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang; Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang; Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra; Minister, Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son; Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh.

The Steering Committee is tasked with innovating and rearranging the organizational model of the Government, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and agencies under the Government to be streamlined, operate effectively and efficiently, and meet the requirements and tasks of the new period; at the same time, innovating and rearranging the organizational system of state administrative agencies.

The Steering Committee will develop a project to summarize 20 years of implementing the Government's organizational model and propose the organizational structure of the 16th Government for the 2026-2030 term.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is the standing body of the Steering Committee, helping to develop work plans and programs; synthesizing and reporting on general activities. The Ministry is also responsible for urging ministries and government agencies to summarize Resolution 18; reviewing and evaluating the implementation of functions, tasks, powers and structures of ministries and branches from the 12th to 15th Government terms and proposing plans for improvement in the coming time.

The operating expenses of the Steering Committee are guaranteed by the state budget and other sources according to the law.

Resolution 18 of 2017 of the Central Committee aims to build a streamlined and efficient political system. The Government, ministries and branches continue to innovate, consolidate and reorganize the apparatus towards focusing on macro management and strategy building. Ministries and branches proactively review, reorganize and streamline internal focal points, fundamentally reduce the number of general departments, departments, divisions and offices; do not establish new organizations or offices within departments.

The government must reduce project management boards and consolidate similar units to reduce costs. State agencies are assigned specific tasks and must be responsible for the results of their work. Some tasks that the government does not necessarily have to do will be assigned to businesses and social organizations.

In March 2023, the Politburo issued Notice 50 on continuing to promote the implementation of Resolution 18.

Four months later, the Government issued Resolution No. 99 on the Action Program to continue to innovate and reorganize the state apparatus in a streamlined and efficient manner. Ministries, branches and localities were assigned to improve their organizations by reviewing and adjusting the tasks of agencies, eliminating overlaps and duplications; and completing the draft Decision on the functions and powers of the General Department and equivalent organizations.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is assigned to preside over the research and completion of the multi-sectoral, multi-field management model, ensuring the principle of "one task, one presiding agency". Currently, the Ministry of Home Affairs is proposing to draft a Law amending and supplementing the Law on Government Organization.

The resolution of the regular Government meeting in November requires that in December, affiliated agencies develop plans to arrange and restructure the apparatus towards a multi-sectoral, multi-field ministry, reducing internal organization.

In the past time, central ministries and branches have reduced 17 general departments and equivalent organizations; reduced 8 departments under general departments and ministries; reduced 145 departments/committees under general departments and ministries; and reduced 90% of departments.

The current Government structure includes 18 ministries: National Defense, Public Security, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Justice, Planning and Investment, Finance, Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development, Transport, Construction, Natural Resources and Environment, Information and Communications, Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Culture, Sports and Tourism, Science and Technology, Education and Training, and Health.

The four ministerial-level agencies include: the Ethnic Committee, the State Bank of Vietnam, the Government Inspectorate and the Government Office.