Busy with the “dual task”

After finishing his work in the fields, Hạng A Giảng, a resident of Nà Xa Village, Mường Đun commune (Tủa Chùa district), took the opportunity to go to the commune People’s Committee to register his child’s birth. Although concerned about arriving after business hours, he was relieved to find the one-stop service counter still processing paperwork.

Liềm Văn Bình, the civil status officer at the commune, set aside his own workload to assist Giảng. He also guided him to use the online public service system for future procedures, allowing him to submit documents from home, saving time and effort.

Bình shared that over the past few days, he and his colleagues have been stationed at the office to review and prepare documents for handover due to the ongoing administrative restructuring. The deadline for completing this handover to the district’s Archives Center is June 30, which requires local offices to finalize their files in time.

“Our team has nearly completed the review, categorization, and packaging of all documents. Given the substantial volume and importance of these files, we must stay focused, often working beyond regular hours. We still need to continue handling citizens’ requests and processing administrative procedures without interruption,” said Bình.

In Xá Nhè commune (Tủa Chùa district), with a population of over 8,000, the workload is even heavier. Despite the increasing demand for services as people rush to complete their paperwork before the restructuring, the local administrative team continues to work without breaks, demonstrating a strong commitment to their duties. Giàng A Vảng, Chairman of the Xá Nhè commune People’s Committee, emphasized: “Although many staff are concerned about their future after the restructuring, especially those in part-time roles, we’ve emphasized that everyone must focus on the collective mission and only rest once their work is done.”

Similarly, at Rạng Đông commune (Tuần Giáo district), a meeting was held to discuss the progress of the administrative restructuring. Besides discussing the execution of routine duties, they focused on issues such as reviewing equipment, materials, and documents in preparation for the merger.

Hồ A Tàng, Chairman of the Rạng Đông commune People’s Committee, stated: “We’ve completed the review of documents and materials and are now waiting for handover. We also recognize that, after the restructuring, the larger population and area will increase the demand for administrative services, so we must ensure smooth operations and assist the public without disrupting their lives.”

Decisive and urgent action

The speed and urgency of the task require a determined and proactive approach. However, the process has not been without challenges, particularly concerning compensation policies, job allocations, and working conditions following the merger. Nguyễn Thế Vinh, Chairman of the Thanh Xương commune People’s Committee (Điện Biên district), expressed concerns about the impact of the restructuring on local employees, especially part-time workers. “They are anxious about what will happen after the restructuring, especially regarding suitable compensation and job transitions,” he held.

Nguyễn Thị Nhung, Director of the Sub-department of Internal Affairs in Điện Biên district, assured that the local government is focused on both addressing staff concerns and ensuring proper document management. "We are working with local authorities to ensure that the documents are stored and handled correctly, and we are also coordinating with the local Party Committee’s Organization Sub-commission to ensure that the staff are placed in roles that suit their qualifications and expertise,” she said.

According to the peovincial Department of Internal Affairs, there are currently over 3,800 civil servants across the district and commune levels, with 1,248 at the district level and 2,571 at the commune level. These staff members will undergo restructuring and reassignment to new administrative units. The initial goal is to maintain the current number of employees, with a gradual process of evaluation and optimization of the workforce over the next five years to meet the standards set by the government.

Additionally, there are 1,380 non-professional staff at the commune level, who are expected to cease their activities by August 1, 2025, with appropriate measures in place to ensure they receive proper compensation based on current regulations.

Nguyễn Tiến Đạt, Director of the provincial Department of Internal Affairs, stated: “We will evaluate and assess the non-professional staff to determine who can continue to serve in other roles, ensuring that they are still able to contribute to their communities.”

The provincial functional agencies have provided clear and decisive guidance, ensuring that the restructuring process is being executed smoothly, with full cooperation from all levels. The main goal is to maintain effective management while avoiding unnecessary fragmentation, ensuring that the changes are supported by both the political system and the public.

The restructuring process is not just an administrative challenge but also a test of organizational capacity, foresight, and adaptability. The ultimate goal is to streamline the administrative bodies at the commune level, avoiding creating a smaller version of the district-level government while ensuring fair compensation and support for the employees.