Merging inevitably results in a surplus of personnel, and as such, many officials with ten years or so of service have volunteered to retire early, giving younger people the opportunity to contribute and work.

After two rounds of announcements regarding the policy, decisions on personnel transfers, and organizational restructuring, Điện Biên province has seen 25 officials retire early. This is a positive sign of the province’s efforts to streamline its political system and ensure it operates effectively and efficiently. In addition to some senior officials nearing retirement age, there are also many officials in their 50s. There is a popular belief that older people are slower to adapt to modern technology, which affects productivity, particularly in this digital age. Therefore, it is understandable that those who are “close to retirement” wish to retire early to keep pace with current trend.

However, reversing the perspective, officials with 20 years of experience are certainly quicker in handling tasks and situations, and are more skilled than younger colleagues. While they may be slower in adopting technology, their knowledge and experience in conducting work are certainly more reliable. Hence, when restructuring and streamlining the political system, authorities must pay attention to avoid unjustly dismissing skilled and experienced persons.

Reforming the organization and structure of personnel is a crucial strategy for building a “streamlined, strong, effective, and efficient” political system that aligns with current development trend. Personnel reforms and restructuring must be based on practical work, geographic areas, and fields of work. To assign and utilize personnel appropriately, the principle of “finding the right person for positions” should be applied. This principle should be a key condition and requirement when assigning and arranging staff. To ensure the right person is chosen for the right task, the evaluation of personnel must be based on their actual performance and quality of their work.

Currently, the political system across the country is focused on restructuring and streamlining the political system in a “running while lining up” manner. If officials are not correctly assessed, resulting in improper assignments, the streamlined system will struggle to operate efficiently and effectively as intended. Incorrect personnel evaluations and improper assignments are among the key causes of corruption, waste, and negative activities. This leads to reduced operational effectiveness of agencies and organizations, which in turn affects the collective’s development.

Assigning personnel to the wrong roles not only reduces the effectiveness and productivity of work but also poses a greater risk of wrongdoing, potentially leading to legal consequences. In recent years, there have been cases in the province where officials and civil servants have been prosecuted for not following legal procedures in their work. Investigations into such cases have shown that aside from negative factors, many officials made mistakes due to a lack of professional competence, with insufficient monitoring and oversight of their duties. Therefore, as the political system undergoes this streamlining revolution, it is essential to apply the “finding the right person for positions” approach based on an objective, transparent, and scientific evaluation of personnel.

In the process of restructuring and streamlining tasks, when officials voluntarily retire, an organization should also conduct a thorough and accurate assessment to ensure that their retirement is comfortable and that the right person is retiring from the right position. Personnel evaluation must be truly objective, avoiding local biases, personal connections, or group interests in assigning tasks or appointing officials. Issues concerning people are always difficult and complex, as there is a tendency to avoid negative impacts when providing feedback or assessing staff. To ensure that the right person is chosen for the right task, when restructuring and streamlining the political system, the required standards for positions must be clearly defined. Local authorities and agencies can use online tools to gather multi-dimensional feedback for a comprehensive evaluation of officials based on their actual competence.

When the right person is assigned to the right job, it enhances the effectiveness, efficiency, and results of the work, while also motivating capable individuals to continue contributing. This ensures that the political system operates effectively and sustainably.

Gia Huy