Amid the commune-level administrative unit reorganization, many experts have commented that state support policies and criteria for streamlining or recruiting officials for new administrative units overlook nonspecialist officers at commune, village and civil group levels.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that, under Decree 33, since mid-2023, nonspecialist workers at commune, village and civil group levels have seen their average allowances rise from 1.14 times to 1.5 times the base salary per person.

Under Decree 33 released in 2023 on commune-level officials, the number of nonspecialist officials depends on the commune type: 14 for type 1, 12 for type 2, and 10 for type 3.

No more than three titles for nonspecialist officers in villages and civil groups (civil group’s party branch secretary, village head or neighborhood leader, and Fatherland Front committee head) receive monthly allowances.

Article 34 of the decree stipulates that nonspecialist commune workers get allowances. The central budget allocates a fixed fund, covering social and health insurance contributions, for monthly payments to these workers.

Type 1 commune units receive a fixed allowance fund equal to 21 times the base salary, type 2 get 18 times, and type 3 get 15 times.

Similarly, nonspecialist officials in villages and neighborhoods with 350+ households (villages) or 500+ households (civil groups), or in key, complex security zones, border areas, or islands, receive a fund equal to six times the base salary.

Fear of personnel cuts

Le V, a VietNamNet reader, noted that while current regulations clearly outline policies for early retirement for full-time officials and staff restructuring plans, non-full-time workers in communes, wards, and towns lack equal attention.

During administrative streamlining, especially commune mergers, nonspecialist officials face more disadvantages than their specialist counterparts.

V noted that nonspecialist officials often miss out on insurance benefits, with social insurance contributions kept very low. Their allowances are also far below salaries of specialized public sector workers or private sector laborers.

During mergers, they don’t receive support like full-time staff such as early retirement or severance packages.

“In mergers, nonspecialist numbers could be slashed hard, risking higher job loss than specialist staff,” he said.

Yet, though called ‘nonspecialist officers’, their workload and duties often mirror specialist officers’ roles, demanding dedication and time.

They juggle tasks from administrative management to local group activities and campaigns.

But in merger and staffing meetings, their roles and contributions rarely get fair mention. “They feel ‘left behind,’ underappreciated,” V said.

He said that these disadvantages not only affect their livelihoods but also hurt grassroots government efficiency.

Therefore, he proposed solutions to secure their rights and support them.

First, regarding social insurance, clear rules should mandate coverage for nonspecialist officials to ensure retirement or risk protection. Second, during mergers, financial aid and job training should support affected nonspecialist officials.

Plus, he said, allowances should rise to match their workload and responsibilities.

Most crucially, during commune restructuring, officials’ skills need transparent and fair evaluation. Capable nonspecialist officials should be prioritized, leveraging young staff’s tech strengths.

Son Nguyen, a 13-year nonspecialist commune worker, is worried as he wonders if nonspecialist commune and ward workers will get benefits if they are cut due to mergers. Decrees 178/2024 and 67/2025 do not mention support for them in such cases.

According to Nhu Hoa, many nonspecialist commune and ward workers hold full-time bachelor’s degrees and solid training, but took deputy roles due to job scarcity. Yet they’re overlooked in merger and streamlining plans.

“They’ve got degrees, skills, experience, and solid advice for leaders to ace tasks. But locally, longevity trumps all; until the boss retires, no spots are open. These officers are ignored in restructuring proposals,” she said.

By the end of 2021, the country had 436,617 nonspecialists officers at the commune, village, and civil group levels. According to MHA, the number of part-time workers at the commune, village, and residential group levels is expected to increase by 7,418 people. Thus, it is expected that the country will have a total of more than 444,000 nonspecialist workers.

Nguyen Thao