HCMC reviews 38 public-service task forces as lawmakers question their effectiveness

Ho Chi Minh City is reviewing 38 administrative-service task forces after they received only 489 applications since November 2025. Lawmakers said units handling few applications could be reorganized, with one delegate arguing that ineffective groups should be abandoned.

The issue arose during a September 3 session of the city People’s Council’s Standing Committee on administrative reform. The applications included 277 from the former Ho Chi Minh City area, 172 from the former Binh Duong area and 40 from another area, according to the report.

The Department of Home Affairs also reported difficulties in arranging benefits for about 1,000 part-time officials in neighborhoods and hamlets who left their positions after a restructuring completed on June 30, 2026. The department twice sought guidance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, on August 1 and 13, but had not received a response by the time of the report.

To protect the affected officials’ rights and help stabilize their situation, the department has drafted a special policy that would provide one-time support from the city budget. It has advised the city government to seek approval to prepare a People’s Council resolution. Deputy Director Nguyen Tan Phong said the process would first require approval in principle, followed by the procedures required under the regulations.

The city is also working with the municipal Party Organization Commission on a staffing plan for 2027-2031. Future allocations would give priority to areas with heavy workloads, new duties and direct services for residents and businesses. The proposed system would shift staff from overstaffed locations to understaffed ones while limiting growth in total staffing.

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If they are not effective, we should be bold enough to remove them.