The Government Steering Committee for reviewing the implementation of Resolution No. 18 has proposed adjustments to several roles and responsibilities between the Ministry of Public Security and other relevant ministries and agencies.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh has signed a directive to refine the plan for restructuring and streamlining the organizational apparatus of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government bodies.

Shifts in responsibilities among ministries

The proposal suggests transferring state management responsibilities for drug rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation care from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to the Ministry of Public Security.

Similarly, the responsibility for state management of judicial records and the issuance of judicial record certificates, currently under the Ministry of Justice, would also be reassigned to the Ministry of Public Security.

The proposal includes transferring the management of MobiFone Telecommunications Corporation to the Ministry of Public Security, with its Party organization becoming part of the Central Public Security Party Committee.

Other suggested changes include moving the tasks of driving license examinations and issuance from the Ministry of Transport to the Ministry of Public Security, as well as transferring the state management of cybersecurity and information security from the Ministry of Information and Communications to the Ministry of Public Security.

For immigration management, the Steering Committee recommends that the Ministry of Public Security oversee the development, collection, updating, and sharing of information in the national immigration database. The Ministry of Public Security would also lead efforts to ensure aviation security at airports and onboard aircraft.

Regarding national security at borders and checkpoints, the committee has assigned the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of National Defense to coordinate their roles, supplementing Decree No. 03/2019 on collaboration between the two ministries in national security and defense.

Changes at the local level

At the provincial level, the proposal suggests transferring drug rehabilitation management and post-rehabilitation care from the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to provincial and municipal police departments.

Similarly, the responsibilities for judicial record management and issuing judicial record certificates would move from the Department of Justice to provincial and municipal police departments.

Tasks related to driving license examinations and issuance would also be transferred from the Department of Transport to provincial and municipal police departments.

Formation of the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs

According to the government’s plan, 10 ministries will be reorganized into five, with four retaining their original names. Specifically, the Ministry of Planning and Investment will merge with the Ministry of Finance to form the Ministry of Finance; the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs will merge with the Ministry of Home Affairs to form the Ministry of Home Affairs; the Ministry of Transport will merge with the Ministry of Construction to form the Ministry of Construction; and the Ministry of Information and Communications will merge with the Ministry of Science and Technology to form the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will merge with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, tentatively named the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will retain its current name after assuming responsibility for state management of the press from the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Additionally, the Steering Committee has proposed the establishment of the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, consolidating the functions, responsibilities, and organizational structure of the Committee for Ethnic Affairs and the religious management function of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

These recommendations are based on directives from the Politburo as outlined in Document No. 13038 dated January 10 and the conclusions of the Government Steering Committee meeting held on January 11.

The Central Committee will convene on January 23-24, with the National Assembly scheduled to meet from February 12-17 to discuss these proposals.

The Steering Committee has requested that all ministries and government bodies finalize their restructuring and merger proposals, including draft decrees on their functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure, and submit them to the Ministry of Home Affairs by January 13.

During the restructuring process, agencies are urged to prioritize political and ideological work, address personnel policies, and maintain routine operations, particularly during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.

Thu Hang