Vietnam has made great efforts to simplify procedures but there remains a lot to be done to eliminate the bureaucracy and red tape in the administration apparatus. This is essential to sharpen the economy’s competitive edge and put a halt to many negative practices.

In a bid to build a standard public administration, the government has been trying to simplify administrative procedures in state management since 2007. However, this has all but been completed in all ministries and provinces and cities nationwide.

By far, the country has reviewed 5,565 administrative procedures, abolishing more than 450 of them, modifying over 3,700 and replacing nearly 300.

The rate of proposals for simplifying administrative affairs now stands at 81 percent in ministries and 66 percent in localities.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has slashed its administrative procedures by more than 76 percent, saving about VND2 trillion per year. Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry has saved VND2.1 trillion annually, and the Ministry of Planning and Investment nearly VND500 billion.

This means that previously Vietnam wasted thousands of billions of Vietnam dong every year due to the poor capacity of public administrators for lack of responsibility.

There is growing concern that the responsibilities of some officials are not clearly identified. It’s worth noting that this style of working is deep-rooted in the mindset of many State employees. This is why the public has a distorted view of administrative procedures.

Currently, the Governmental Office is gathering together 250 staff including leading experts from various ministries and agencies, as well as 60 top lawyers from the Vietnam Lawyers’ Association, to work with the Prime Minister’s ad hoc groups to finalise a standard administrative system as soon as possible.

In addition, it is essential to raise the State employees’ awareness of the urgent need to pull through administrative reform and become more responsible at work. At present, there still remain some shortcomings in implementing a “one-stop-shop” policy, which has resulted in many officials becoming apathetic.

Even with simple administrative procedures put in place, the administrative system can only operate well with highly conscientious officials. It is estimated that with 81 percent less administrative procedures in ministries and State agencies, and a 66 percent cut in the administrative procedures used by local authorities, millions of Vietnam dong would be saved annually.

For their part, people will play an important role in supervising the implementation of administrative reform and expect to enjoy their legitimate interests from the new standard set of administrative procedures.