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Municipal-level implementation of policies from central and provincial governments

The Ministry of Home Affairs has released and sought public opinion on a draft decree defining the competencies in the field of home affairs when organizing a two-tier local government. According to current regulations, local governments consist of three levels: provincial, district, and municipal.

As expected, the 2013 Constitution will be amended, and the Law on Local Government Organization will be adjusted to abolish the district-level administration. Consequently, the tasks and competencies of state agencies at the district level need to be adjusted to meet the requirements of state management.

Based on this, the draft has clearly defined the tasks and competencies of state agencies after the district-level administration ceases operations.

Regarding the division of competencies, the Ministry of Home Affairs clarified that the municipal level mainly implements policies issued by the central and provincial governments. These policies focus on tasks that serve the people, directly address community issues, and provide essential public services to residents in the area.

The new municipal-level government will assume the tasks and powers of the current local government at the municipal level, as well as the tasks and powers of the district-level local government.

Meanwhile, the provincial-level local government will manage, inspect, and supervise the activities of the municipal-level local government.

The draft decree stipulates that 8 areas of state management will be transferred from the district to the municipal level (state archives and records management, emulation and rewards, salaries and social insurance, employment, occupational safety, personnel organization, youth and gender equality, non-governmental organizations, and the area of merit).

On the other hand, four areas of state management will be transferred from the district to the provincial level (state archives and records management, emulation and rewards, salaries and social insurance, employment, and occupational safety).

90 district-level tasks to be transferred to the new municipal level

Speaking at a discussion session of the National Assembly, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra said that the bill has been fundamentally and comprehensively amended with a philosophy of reform, innovation, progress, and development.

“This is the time to set very high requirements for national governance, building modern localities, and creating an effective and efficient apparatus, while aiming for civil service reform,” said Tra.

According to the Home Affairs leader, the first and most fundamental issue is establishing a two-tier model of local government to replace the current three-tier model.

This model focuses on the current 13 island districts. Regarding special administrative-economic units, the bill also sets out specific criteria and conditions. However, these special units are still part of the overall two-tier local government structure.

In addition, the draft clearly defines the competencies, tasks, and powers of each level of local government. The tasks and powers of the district level will be transferred to the new municipal level, and some tasks will also be delegated from the provincial level.

“As a result, the tasks and powers of the new municipal level will be very demanding. Out of 99 tasks and powers of the district level, 90 will be transferred to the new municipal level. The remaining nine tasks will be assigned to the provincial level,” Tra provided the latest information.