Many "forest rangers" resign
To reorganize and streamline the apparatus, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of Phu Yen province has 118 cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers (including 81 civil servants, 35 public employees and 2 contract workers) voluntarily applying for early retirement and resignation according to Decree 178/ND-CP from 2025 to 2030. The total estimated budget for implementing policies and regimes is more than 148 billion VND.
Of which, the Forest Protection Department is the unit with the largest number of cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers voluntarily applying for early retirement and resignation, with 54 people.
The total staff of the Forest Protection Department in 2025 is 130 people. However, after many recruitments, the unit still cannot meet the staffing target. Currently, the number of staff serving in the Forest Protection sector is 126 people.
Regarding the fact that many "forest guards" have asked to retire early, Mr. Nguyen Van Toan - Deputy Head of the Phu Yen Provincial Forest Protection Department - said that in order to carry out the arrangement, the officers in the unit have asked to retire according to their personal wishes.
"This is just the step of registering for leave based on wishes. In the future, the unit will have a plan to retain staff, to ensure work, not just asking for leave", Mr. Toan said.
According to Mr. Toan, the time to implement personnel work is according to a 5-year roadmap, until 2030. During the stages of personnel reduction, the Forestry Department will consult the Provincial People's Committee and departments for a plan to receive new people, to ensure work.
"The rangers work day and night, often on duty in the forests, having to be away from home for long periods of time, which also makes some of us worried. Some long-time rangers are now old and have difficulty moving in the deep forest... so they want to retire," said Mr. Toan.
Retaining good staff
As of December 2024, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Phu Yen province has 220 civil servants and 202 officials working at 5 Protection Forest Management Boards, 3 centers, 6 sub-departments, the Forest Protection and Development Fund Agency, and the New Rural Coordination Office.
According to the roadmap, in 2025, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Phu Yen province will have 57 cases; in 2026, there will be 41 cases; in 2027, there will be 6 cases; in 2028, there will be 4 cases; in 2029, there will be 7 cases and in 2030, there will be 3 cases of CCVCNLD applying for early retirement or resignation.
Speaking to Lao Dong, Mr. Nguyen Trong Tung - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Phu Yen province - said that the plan is to merge the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (TNMT). Therefore, the departments of the department must also be merged, to ensure that from now until 2030, there will be a 20% reduction, both merging and dissolving, to arrange new forces, serving the work effectively.
"For the 118 civil servants who wish to retire early, the department will consider each specific case, not everyone who requests will be resolved immediately. In cases where the cadres are not in good health, work ineffectively... then they will be considered for retirement. In cases where good and capable cadres request to retire, the department will encourage them mentally, and have a mechanism to retain these cadres so as not to interrupt work," said Mr. Tung.
242 officials and employees apply for early retirement
According to the Department of Home Affairs of Phu Yen province, up to now, the province has 242 civil servants and public employees who have registered their wishes to retire early and quit their jobs according to Decree No. 178/2024/ND-CP. Of which, 212 cadres have applied for early retirement and 30 cadres have applied for resignation.
Previously, at a meeting with press agencies on the occasion of the Spring of At Ty 2025, Ms. Cao Thi Hoa An - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairwoman of the People's Council of Phu Yen province - said that the province has completed the plan to arrange the organizational apparatus and submitted it to the Central Government for approval.
Ms. Cao Thi Hoa An also encouraged cadres who were assessed as not completing their tasks to voluntarily resign, giving opportunities for excellent cadres to contribute and serve the organization and apparatus, bringing the highest efficiency to the development of the province.
