Hanoi (VNA) – Under a plan on merging and streamlining a number of ministries and agencies, the Government apparatus is expected to consist of 13 ministries and four ministerial-level agencies, decreasing by five ministries and three agencies, according to Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on December 17, the minister said the current 13 general departments equivalent organisations under ministries and ministerial-level agencies will be reduced to just one, the number of departments and equivalent units under ministries and general departments will be reduced by 500; the number of divisions within ministries and equivalent agencies will be cut by 177; and that of public service units under ministries and their affiliated agencies will be decreased by 190.

These numbers are higher than the target set by the Party Central Committee, she noted.

Tra said her ministry has completed all reports on reviewing Resolution 18-NQ/TW; a plan for the merge and consolidation and transfer of functions, tasks, organisational structure; along with a scheme for terminating the activities of the Government’s Party Civil Affairs Committee, setting up the Party organisations in the Government, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and agencies under the Government.

According to the minister, after streamlining and adjusting the functions and tasks of state management in ministries and equivalent agencies, the existing problem of overlapping is expected to be largely addressed.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is also providing consultations for the finalisation of all related reports and plans to submit to the Politburo and the Central Steering Committee on the review of Resolution 18-NQ/TW regarding several issues on continuing to restructure and streamline the political system, on December 25, 2024.

She underlined the importance to have policies supporting civil servants, public employees and labourers impacted by the reorganisation, helping them stabilise their lives after the streamlining, noting that the ministry has completed a draft decree on support policies for those target groups, which will be submitted to the Politburo in the next few days.

These policies aim to stabilise the lives and ensure rights and benefits of affected civil servants, public employees, and labourers, under the principle of “leaving no one behind” in the scheme, Tra went on.

She stressed that this is a revolution not only to streamline the apparatus but also to change the mindset, vision and awareness for changes towards a better future. As such, it is full of challenges and obstacles, requiring leaders and officials in the political system to have strong will, bravery and self-sacrifice, uphold the spirit of unity and high resolve for rapid and effective implementation.

The minister said the Party and the Party leader have chosen a time of historical significance for this revolution, when the country is preparing for Party congresses at all levels towards the 14th National Party Congress, and when there are urgent needs for changes to keep up with changes in the era and the trend of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

During just over a month, the streamlining scheme has created a strong "momentum," advancing strongly throughout the political system from the central to localities, and across the society, Tra said, noting her belief in the success of the streamli⛄ning process with the high resolve of the entire political system./.