"One foot in, one foot out," a slang phrase used by Vietnamese, refers to a situation where someone, typically a public servant, is only partially committed to their primary job (the "inside foot") while also engaging in outside work or activities (the "outside foot") to supplement their income.

The nation has a population of 100 million. Its territory remains unchanged. But its requirements and goals for national development have changed. From 63 provinces and cities, the country now has only 34. Merging administrative units is not just about combining two to three or four units into a larger one; it involves multiplying innovative ideas, new thinking, and advanced governance capabilities.

With a new scale, space, and potential for development, the administrative apparatus must naturally transform. Every public servant in public agencies must strive to elevate themselves to meet new demands and tasks. With increased workloads, public servants must handle tasks with greater vision and competence.

This may not be immediately evident, as the initial steps of streamlining and reorganization are just beginning. The reduction in the number of cadres and public servants post-merger still carries a mechanical approach, not yet a true "weeding out" to ensure those remaining in the system are the most capable and effective.

However, in the long term, public service efficiency will be proven and measured by public satisfaction and the nation's robust development.

Some departments still have tens of deputy positions, but these are "transitional figures" that any reform must tolerate. These "irksome numbers" will gradually be filtered out over the next five years to meet the goal of a "lean yet effective" apparatus after mergers.

Salary increase

Salary has always been the most challenging issue in policies related to workers, including cadres, public servants, employees, and armed forces personnel paid from the state budget. Each salary increase triggers significant societal impacts. Salaries rising slower than prices is a "common occurrence."

An overly cumbersome and inefficient apparatus, with too many people drawing salaries from the state budget, has become a burden, hindering the nation's progress. The question of how to enable cadres, public servants, and employees to live on their salaries has long been raised but remains unanswered.

Now, with a streamlined apparatus, recurring expenses for its operation have started to decrease and will significantly drop within the next five years. This enables salary increases for public servants remaining in the system. This must be prioritized urgently to ensure their income, stabilize their lives, and enable them to dedicate themselves fully to their duties from the first days after the merger.

Streamlining the apparatus does not mean reducing workload; in fact, tasks are increasing, demanding far higher quality and efficiency. Especially with the two-tier local government model, commune-level public servants must take on an additional 85 percent of the tasks previously handled by district levels.

It is difficult to demand more from public servants when their salaries and income remain unimproved. The country has entered a new development phase, and the "two-footed public servant" model, with the "outside foot" often longer, is no longer acceptable.

Sufficient salary 

In reality, the traditional rank-based salary system is no longer suitable. With the current base salary of VND2.34 million, a senior expert public servant earns the highest at VND23.4 million/month. Meanwhile, a Class C, Group 3 public servant (with basic qualifications) earns the lowest at VND3.159 million/month.

No one can live on an income of just over VND3 million/month. Besides salaries, public servants receive some allowances. However, most of them currently live on salaries around VND10 million. This is a modest income compared to the needs of workers, especially those raising children, paying for education, or renting housing.

To retain and motivate public servants to work with dedication, immediate and specific policies are needed, with salary increases being the most practical solution. For officers in merged provinces, salary increases are essential to alleviate their financial burdens and motivate them to stay committed to their roles in new localities. At least a 30 percent increase is necessary, as many experts suggest.

At a meeting of the Politburo and Secretariat reviewing the implementation of Central Committee resolutions and Politburo conclusions on reorganizing the apparatus and administrative units from November 2024 to July 2025, General Secretary To Lam emphasized the need to review and amend regulations on salary policies and responsibility allowances for cadres, public servants, and employees to suit the new, larger-scale organization with higher performance requirements.

While awaiting the implementation of job- and performance-based salaries as proposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the immediate shift must be from "minimum wage" to "minimum living wage." The country aims for over 8 percent growth this year and double-digit growth in the coming years. However, economic growth must ensure sustainable development, particularly in human resources.

Thu Hang