Urgent reform tasks

GOVERNMENT IDENTIFIES URGENT REORM TASKS


Ha Noi, Jan. 22 -- Eight major urgent tasks have been identified for completion this year as part of the Government's administrative reform programme for 2001.

Ratified by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai last week, the tasks range from accelerating the introduction of a comprehensive legal system more favourable to commerce to properly tune the functions, tasks and authority of ministries and agencies.

At this is to be done in accordance with Viet Nam's constitution and existing laws so as to minimize cumbersome bureaucracy and eliminate the ambiguity of obsolete regulations.

The programme also calls for a more active role and wider particiation by people from all social stratas in revising the 1992 Constiution; and revamp the Law for (Central) Government Organization and the Law for Local-Government Organisation as defined in the National Assembly's rates resolutions.

The Government is to thoroughly assess and change the mechanism by which State-budget allocations are made according to the number of public employees; devise a scheme to reform the Government's salary policies in the spirit of agreements reached at the recent 7th conference of Party Central Committee; and take realistic and recovery measures to ensure strict observation of administrative disciplines.

The programme underscores the tasks necessary to further improve the working methods and efficiency of the Government; the Prime Minister, ministries and agencies, and the local People's Committee.

The Prime Minister's office says this year's tasks accord with the Government's determination to further improve its working methods and efficiency and complete its reform strategy together with boosting socio-economic development between now and 2010.--VNA