Vietnam's lawmakers approve merging provinces, slashing nearly 80,000 jobs
The move to streamline administrative bodies aimed to shift Vietnam's approach from passive management to active public service. (EPA Images pic)
HANOI : Vietnam's National Assembly on Thursday approved plans to merge provinces and cities, slashing nearly 80,000 state jobs, as part of major reforms to the communist country's administrative structure.
Lawmakers voted to reduce the country's 63 provincial and city administrations to just 34, as the government looks to radically cut state expenditure.
The move comes after the government cut the number of ministries and agencies from 30 to 22 in February, resulting in 23,000 job losses.
Vietnam's top leader To Lam has said the drastic restructuring of the country's governance is needed if it is to achieve 'fast, stable and sustainable development'.
In Thursday's vote, the assembly – a rubber-stamp body in a one-party system – approved the government's plans by 461 ballots to one, with three abstentions.
Only 11 provinces and cities are left unchanged by the reform, with the rest all merged.
Interior minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra said it amounted to the 'biggest ever revolution since the country was founded' in 1945, state media reported on Wednesday.
'79,339 officials will have to be streamlined, quitting their jobs or submitting for early retirement following the merge,' Tra told the National Assembly.
One provincial official told AFP he was 'shocked and sad' as he will have to leave his position after more than 30 years of public service.
'I may receive some billion dong in compensation, but I am not happy,' the 58-year-old communist party member said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
'I don't know what to do now though I think I am still completely fit for work.'
The streamlined administrative bodies will be expected to 'shift from passive management to active service to the people', said Lam, the Communist Party general secretary and most powerful figure in the country.
'I think the merge is good for all and I fully support it,' said Nguyen Thang Loi, 52, from northern Thai Binh province, which is being merged.
'Though I feel really sad as the name of my native province, which has lasted generations, will now be gone. It's so weird to say I come from Hung Yen,' Loi told AFP.
According to the government, all cities and provinces will announce their new leadership on June 30 and start full operation at the beginning of July.
In the next few days, the National Assembly will vote on an amended national constitution, under which the country's three-level administrative structure of province, district and commune will be reduced to two.
The middle district level will be eliminated and the commune level expanded.
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