HCMC administration short-handed

HCMC Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong said at a Tuesday meeting that besides himself, only Standing Vice Chairman Le Thanh Liem and Vice Chairman Tran Vinh Tuyen manned the municipal administration at present.

Vice Chairman Huynh Cach Mang is ill and Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thu passed away last month.

He also noted that since Thu's position was still vacant, Liem has to take on the extra responsibilities of her portfolios, including education, health, culture and labor.

He called on the directors of various government departments to share the governance burden with the leaders.

But two key departments are themselves headless after erstwhile Transport Department director Bui Xuan Cuong was posted as head of the management board overseeing work on the city's much delayed metro line project, and Planning and Investment Department director Su Ngoc Anh was named Party secretary of Go Vap District.

These departments are being managed by deputy directors now.

Many state-owned companies belonging to the city are also headless after their directors retired or went on leave without naming replacements, posing legal issues.

At a press conference after the meeting, the Chief of Staff of the People's Committee, Vo Van Hoan, said city leaders were reviewing the personnel situation to take remedial measures. However, so far, a replacement has been identified for just one of the two vice chairs, he added.

Besides, the People's Committee office, which nominally has seven deputies, only has three now, including one who is under investigation and not at work, he said.

"The city is working carefully to identify capable, qualified people. While the need is urgent, plans and procedures have to be followed.

"This time the city will focus on long-term human resource work, not just for 2019-20. The city Party unit and Party units at other levels must focus on strengthening human resources."

HCMC, home to 13 million people including migrants, is the country's largest metropolis and its key economic driver.