People come to do procedures at the Thuy Xuan Ward Public Administration Center (illustrative photo). Photo: Ngoc Hoa

The communal-level civil servants are the “facade” of the government apparatus. Every day, they directly contact and handle administrative procedures for the people. Therefore, the goals and objectives set when reforming the apparatus to aim for a grassroots government that is closer to the people, operates more effectively and efficiently, as well as to build a service-oriented government, digital transformation, and increase satisfaction… are all at risk of being difficult to achieve if the communal level does not have the capacity to implement. Therefore, choosing the right person, placing them in the right place, and assessing their capacity correctly are prerequisites for the smooth and effective operation of the two-level local government (CQDP2C).

It is very exciting that after more than a month of operating the CQDP2C model, Hue City has achieved many positive results with more than 2,300 administrative procedures made public, 100% of electronic processes approved, and fully connected to the National Public Service Portal. However, reality requires Hue City, specifically the team of civil servants at the commune and ward levels, to serve the people better and more effectively. Therefore, Hue City's initiative in organizing the assessment is a bold step, clearly demonstrating an open-minded attitude and aiming for real values.

Instead of relying on records, degrees or “long-standing reputation” to evaluate cadres and civil servants - which often have emotional and unquantifiable factors, the assessment will directly evaluate implementation capacity, from knowing how to do, being able to do, to doing quickly and doing correctly. This is what people need most from a civil servant.

The assessment also opens up opportunities to objectively screen the team, avoiding the situation of “sitting in the wrong place” for a long time. A weak civil servant should not continue to hold the payroll just because “no one evaluates” or “no one replaces”. On the contrary, those with real capacity will have the opportunity to be retained, developed and contribute more. This is a fair, transparent and professional approach that society has long expected.

Of course, assessment is not a “magic wand”. To be fair and convincing, assessment content must be systematically developed, appropriate to each specific job position; the process must be clear, closely monitored; the results must be transparent and used seriously to rearrange personnel. At the same time, it should be noted that: Assessment should not be a “one-time” activity, but should be considered a regular step in the public service assessment cycle, from recruitment to use and dismissal.

Hue's proactive approach, if it yields satisfactory results, will be a good lesson and experience for other localities. Especially in the context - as acknowledged by Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra at the recent conference reviewing 1 month of operating CQDP2C, on July 28: One of the major problems at present is the staff, civil servants and public employees of CQDP2C.

And Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra added: In the near future, the Ministry of Home Affairs will have a document to direct localities to review, synthesize, and evaluate the arrangement and assignment of cadres and civil servants, thereby classifying and screening cadres and civil servants according to specific criteria and standards.

In the current flow of digital transformation, streamlining of staff and administrative reform, the capacity of the staff and civil servants is no longer a supporting factor but a prerequisite. A modern commune headquarters, a perfect electronic process... will also become meaningless if the civil servants behind it are not competent or lack the spirit of service.

Therefore, organizing the examination of commune-level civil servants, if implemented properly, will not only help select suitable people, but also be a step towards building a more open, transparent and responsible administration.

From Grace

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/sat-hach-cong-chuc-cap-xa-de-chinh-quyen-co-so-chuyen-nghiep-hon-156763.html