On the morning of February 5, the National Assembly Standing Committee convened its 42nd session to review and provide opinions on the draft resolution regarding the organizational structure of the Government for the 15th National Assembly term.

Presenting the Government’s proposal, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra stated that in July 2021, the 15th National Assembly adopted Resolution 08, which maintained the Government’s structure at 22 agencies, comprising 18 ministries and four ministerial-level agencies.

However, in the coming period, as the country enters a new phase of national development, state management faces higher and more complex demands.

Therefore, restructuring the Government's apparatus in conjunction with reorganizing and enhancing the quality of its officials, civil servants, and public employees is a crucial task that requires further research and effective, rational implementation.

Establishment of six new ministries

Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra stated that the Government has proposed that the National Assembly consider and decide on a new organizational structure, consisting of 14 ministries and three ministerial-level agencies. This includes establishing six new ministries by consolidating and reorganizing 11 existing ones.

Ministry of Finance: This new ministry will be formed by merging the Ministry of Planning and Investment with the Ministry of Finance, largely inheriting the functions and responsibilities of both. It will also assume the organizational structure of Vietnam Social Security and take over the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of state ownership representation for 18 state-owned corporations and enterprises currently managed by the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises.

Ministry of Construction: This will be established by merging the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Transport, largely inheriting the responsibilities of both. Additionally, the function of state management over driver licensing and road vehicle examinations will be transferred from the Ministry of Transport to the Ministry of Public Security.

Ministry of Agriculture and Environment: This ministry will be created by merging the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, taking over the responsibilities of both. It will also assume the state management function over poverty reduction from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs.

Ministry of Science and Technology: This new entity will be formed by merging the Ministry of Science and Technology with the Ministry of Information and Communications. Additionally, responsibilities related to press and publishing management will be transferred from the Ministry of Information and Communications to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Ministry of Home Affairs: This ministry will be established by merging the Ministry of Home Affairs with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs.

It will handle the current functions of the Ministry of Home Affairs and assume responsibilities related to labor, wages, employment, people with meritorious services, occupational safety and hygiene, social insurance, and gender equality from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs.

Additionally, the function of vocational education management will be transferred from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs to the Ministry of Education and Training.

Furthermore, responsibilities for social protection, child welfare, and social evils prevention (except drug rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation management, which will be transferred to the Ministry of Public Security) will be transferred from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs to the Ministry of Health. The responsibility for poverty reduction will be shifted to the new Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs: This will be established by restructuring the current Committee for Ethnic Affairs, incorporating the state management function over religious affairs from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and refining its responsibilities in managing ethnic affairs.

Retaining 11 existing ministries and agencies

The Government proposes maintaining the following ministries and agencies:

Ministry of National Defense
Ministry of Public Security
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Industry and Trade
Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Education and Training
Ministry of Health
Government Office
Government Inspectorate
State Bank of Vietnam

Preliminarily evaluating the proposal, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Legal Affairs Hoang Thanh Tung stated that the Committee's Standing Board agrees with the proposed Government structure for the 15th National Assembly term.

The Committee suggested that the Government develop an implementation plan to ensure the timely organization and transition once the National Assembly passes the resolution.

Additionally, Mr. Tung emphasized the need for a transition period from the resolution’s effective date to allow the restructured ministries and agencies sufficient time to prepare necessary conditions before officially commencing operations.

Thu Hang