Overview of commune level before province merger, district level abolished

At the meeting on the afternoon of March 5, the Standing Committee of the Government Party Committee agreed on a two-level local government model including the provincial level (provinces and centrally-run cities) and the grassroots level.

If the 2-level local government model is implemented, it means that the district level will be abolished and only the provincial and commune levels will remain.

The Government Party Committee also discussed plans to merge some provincial-level units. Commune-level administrative units are also being calculated for further merger.

The whole country has 10,035 commune-level units.

Recently, the whole country has carried out two rounds of reorganization and merger of administrative units at district and commune levels in 2019-2021 and 2023-2025.

Through these two rounds of arrangement and merger, the country currently has 63 provinces and cities; 696 district-level administrative units; and 10,035 commune-level administrative units.

Statistics from the Ministry of Home Affairs show that in the 2019-2021 period, the country had 212,606 commune-level officials and civil servants. At this time, 82.3% of commune-level officials and civil servants had university degrees.

Decree No. 33/2023 on commune-level cadres, civil servants and non-professional workers at commune, village and residential group levels stipulates that the number of commune-level cadres and civil servants is increased according to population size and natural area.

Based on the current population and natural area, the whole country needs 221,202 commune-level cadres and civil servants, an increase of 7,418 people compared to before. After 2023, the whole country needs 228,620 commune-level cadres and civil servants.

Currently, at the commune level, there are 6 civil servant positions: Commander of the Military Command; Office - statistics; Land - construction - urban and environment (for wards and towns) or land - agriculture - construction and environment (for communes); Finance - accounting; Justice - civil status; Culture - society.

Commune-level officials include: Party Secretary, Deputy Secretary; Chairman, Vice Chairman of People's Council; Chairman, Vice Chairman of People's Committee; Chairman of Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; Secretary of Youth Union; Chairman of Women's Union; Chairman of Farmers' Association; Chairman of Veterans' Association.

Commune-level civil servants must have a university degree.

To implement the policy of abolishing district-level administrative units, many experts note that it is necessary to prepare a number of conditions for the commune level, especially the qualifications of commune-level officials and civil servants.

Previously, when commenting on the draft Decree of the Government regulating commune-level cadres, civil servants and non-professional workers at the commune, village and residential group levels, many opinions also suggested that commune-level civil servants should have a university degree, except in some cases in special units where a secondary school degree is accepted.

In recent years, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra has repeatedly emphasized the spirit of “standardizing” the qualifications of commune-level officials and civil servants to move towards connecting civil servants at commune, district and provincial levels. Therefore, the requirement for commune-level officials and civil servants to have university degrees is a requirement to meet the requirements and tasks in the new situation.

Decree 33/2023 also clearly states the standards for commune-level officials and civil servants according to the competency framework from university level or higher, except where otherwise provided by law or the organization's charter, and the duties according to the job description of each position and title (job position).

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs sent an official dispatch to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities regarding the review and reporting of the quantity and quality of commune-level cadres and civil servants.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Home Affairs requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to review and report on the quantity and quality of commune-level officials and civil servants (as of December 31, 2024).

Provinces and cities must send reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs before March 10, 2025 for synthesis and reporting to competent authorities.

This is also an urgent task under the direction of the Politburo in Conclusion 127 of the Politburo and the Secretariat on implementing research and proposing to continue to reorganize the apparatus of the political system.