Vietnam backs merging of provinces

VIETNAM'S National Assembly yesterday approved plans to merge provinces and cities, slashing nearly 80 000 state jobs, as part of major reforms to the communist country’s administrative structure.

- 

Lawmakers voted to reduce the country’s 63 provincial and city administrations to just 34, as the government looks to radically cut state expenditure.

The move comes after the government cut the number of ministries and agencies from 30 to 22 in February, resulting in 23 000 job losses.

The dramatic changes echo US President Donald Trump's push to take a hatchet to government spending, but have created unease among some in a communist system where working for the state has long meant a job for life.

Vietnam's top leader To Lam has said the drastic restructuring of the country’s governance is needed if it is to achieve “fast, stable and sustainable development”.

In Thursday's vote, the assembly - a rubber-stamp body in a one-party system - approved the government's plans by 461 ballots to one, with three abstentions.