[14 Feb. 2013] - Up to 30 percent of Vietnam’s public servants fail to do their jobs effectively, the Lao Dong (Labor) quoted Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc as saying on 26 Jan 2013.

He told a government meeting that current policies don’t allow salaries to be based on merit, so incompetent workers are rewarded with the same salaries as excellent workers, who have little chance of pay raises or promotions.

He added that recruitment in the public service sector is still plagued by corruption.

Phuc was speaking at a meeting of the steering committee of a public service policy improvement project implemented since late last year.

“We now have 2.8 million state employees, but in reality, do all of them devote everything to their jobs?” the deputy PM asked.

 “Within our system, up to 30 percent of our public servants are not even needed, because every morning they go to work and then go home in the evening without bringing any efficiency to their jobs.”

The leaders of ministries and government agencies need to be bold about reforming public service policies and recruitment, Phuc said.  (Thanh Nien News)