Hai Phong issues standard framework for commune-level leadership and management positions

The Standing Committee of the Hai Phong City Party Committee has issued regulations on the framework of standards for commune-level officials, civil servants, public employees, and leadership and management positions.

Basis for personnel planning, assignment, and appointment

Accordingly, the Standing Committee of the Hai Phong City Party Committee sets out the standard framework for commune-level leadership and management officials and civil servants under the management authority of commune-level Party committees (excluding positions managed by the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee). The framework serves as the basis for personnel planning, training, fostering, evaluation, assignment, rotation, appointment, nomination, and implementation of personnel policies in accordance with regulations.

The regulations apply to Party committees, Party organizations, agencies, units, and organizations within the commune-level political system.

The framework is intended to build a contingent of commune-level leaders and managers with sufficient political qualities, capabilities, and prestige to meet new requirements and tasks. At the same time, it provides a unified basis for personnel planning, training, appointment, rotation, and evaluation.

The regulations specify eight general standards, including political qualities, ethics, and spirit of serving the people; understanding of Party guidelines and State laws and policies; communication skills and service toward citizens and businesses; innovation and work improvement; professional qualifications; prestige and ability to unite people; work performance; and health, age, and experience.

Notably, regarding qualifications, the Standing Committee of the Hai Phong City Party Committee requires candidates to hold at least a university degree relevant to the job position in accordance with regulations; and to possess at least an intermediate-level political theory qualification, an intermediate-level political-administrative theory qualification, or an equivalent certification recognized by a competent authority.

In terms of state management and science and technology, candidates must hold a state management certificate at specialist level or equivalent and above.

For personnel serving as military or police leaders, leaders of educational or healthcare public service units, or leaders of non-state enterprises, the requirement for a state management specialist certificate or equivalent is not mandatory, provided they meet the standards and conditions stipulated by their respective sectors and higher-level authorities, if applicable.

Regarding information technology and foreign languages, candidates must possess skills in using information technology, digital platforms, document management systems, and online public services to support leadership, management, and administration. They must also have foreign language proficiency appropriate to their position, locality, and field of work in accordance with regulations.

Standards for eight specific commune-level positions

The Standing Committee of the Hai Phong Party Committee has also clearly defined standards for eight specific positions.

Members of commune-level Party Executive Committees must meet four criteria, including having held and successfully fulfilled leadership responsibilities at the division or department level under the commune administration or equivalent positions and above.

Members of the Standing Committee of commune-level Party Committees must satisfy all standards required for members of the Party Executive Committee, along with five additional criteria, including being a member of the commune-level Party Executive Committee and having successfully served as head of a commune-level department, division or equivalent unit.

Vice Chairpersons of commune-level People’s Councils must meet all standards applicable to members of the Party Executive Committee, along with four additional criteria, including being a member of the commune-level Party Executive Committee and having successfully held leadership positions as heads of commune-level departments, divisions or equivalent units.

Vice Chairpersons of commune-level People’s Committees must also meet all standards applicable to members of the Party Executive Committee, in addition to six other requirements. In particular, the Standing Committee of the Hai Phong Party Committee requires that vice chairpersons in charge of specific sectors possess professional qualifications directly related to at least one specialized field under their responsibility, while also having knowledge and experience in related sectors within that field. They must also be members of the commune-level Party Executive Committee and have successfully served as heads of commune-level departments, divisions or equivalent units.

Heads and deputy heads of Party advisory bodies, support agencies and public non-business units under commune-level Party Committees must satisfy six criteria. In particular, heads of such units must be members of the Standing Board or Party Executive Committee at the commune level and have successfully held the immediately preceding deputy-head position or an equivalent role.

Chairpersons and vice chairpersons of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, as well as heads of socio-political organizations at the commune level, are also required to meet multiple standards. Specifically, chairpersons of the commune-level Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee must be members of the Standing Board or Party Executive Committee and have successfully served as heads of departments, divisions, units, or as vice chairpersons of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee or heads of socio-political organizations at the commune level or equivalent positions.

For vice chairpersons of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee who concurrently serve as heads of socio-political organizations at the commune level, the Hai Phong Party Committee requires that they have successfully served in deputy-head positions of commune-level departments, divisions or equivalent units.

Personnel appointed as Secretaries of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union at the commune level must meet the age requirements stipulated for Youth Union officials. Meanwhile, personnel serving as Chairpersons of the Veterans’ Association at the commune level must comply with regulations and guidance issued by competent authorities.

Heads and deputy heads of divisions and equivalent units under commune-level People’s Committees are required to meet seven criteria. For heads of divisions, candidates must have successfully served as deputy heads of commune-level departments, divisions or equivalent units, or have at least four consecutive years of experience working in the relevant sector or field. For deputy heads, the Standing Committee of the Hai Phong Party Committee requires at least three consecutive years of experience in the relevant field or sector.

Heads and deputy heads of public non-business units directly under commune-level People’s Committees must satisfy five criteria. For heads of units, candidates must have successfully served as deputy heads of commune-level departments, divisions or equivalent units and above.

Seven special cases

The Standing Committee of the Hai Phong Party Committee also stipulates seven special cases in applying standards for the appointment and nomination of officials.

Officials transferred or rotated from other localities or agencies are not necessarily required to meet the criterion of “having previously held key leadership or management positions at the directly subordinate level.”

Officials appointed to equivalent positions or assigned additional concurrent positions are not necessarily required to fully meet all standards applicable to equivalent or concurrent positions.

Officials currently working in state administrative agencies who have not yet obtained certificates in state management knowledge and skills at specialist level or equivalent must complete the required certification within 12 months from the effective date of the appointment decision.

In cases where civil servants are appointed to leadership or management positions under Party and State policies on attracting and utilizing talented individuals and experts, they are not necessarily required to fully satisfy all standards stipulated in the regulation, but must complete the requirements within 36 months from the date of appointment.

When considering the appointment or nomination of officials to new positions not yet specified in the regulation, the general standards and equivalent standards for positions of similar nature and function shall apply.

For first-time appointments to leadership and management positions at all levels, candidates are not necessarily required to fully meet standards relating to leadership achievements or prior experience in key subordinate leadership positions.

Other special cases shall be considered and decided by competent authorities responsible for personnel management.

Phong Tuyet