Hanoi (VNA) – The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on August 11 reviewed a report on the supervision over the enforcement of policies and laws related to the development and use of human resources, especially high-quality manpower, to meet socio-economic development needs.

The report noted that Vietnam’s workforce has largely kept pace with national socio-economic development goals. Human resources and high-quality manpower have improved in both quantity and quality, with a more appropriate structure and improved capabilities, skills, and productivity. Employment and income indicators have also shown positive trends, it said.

In the public sector, most civil servants and public employees now hold university degrees or higher. Personnel recruitment, use, management, and development are increasingly transparent and rules-based, with overall competence meeting requirements, it noted.

However, the report also highlighted several concerns, including a shortage of high-quality human resources, especially top-tier experts, problems in financial mechanisms and policies for education, slow labour restructuring, a lack of special mechanisms and policies to attract, train, and retain talent, along with uncompetitive recruitment and workplace environments

The supervision team urged the Government to promptly issue a national human resources development strategy until 2030, with a vision to 2050, and ensure sufficient funding for strategy implementation.

It also pointed out the need for amendments to several laws, including the Law on Education, the Law on Higher Education, the Law on Vocational Education, the Law on Population, and the Law on Public Employees. Changes should also be made to the national target programme on education – training, and the one on population and development.

Critically, the report called for official definitions and criteria for high-quality human resources, including the cirteria on training outcomes, experience, practical performance, reputation, and working achievements.

Addressing the session, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man said that the Politburo’s "four pillar" resolutions all highlight the need to improve education quality and human capital.

He announced that two new resolutions — on universal education and public health care — will be issued by August 15, under Party General Secretary To Lam’s directions. Following the issuance, the final supervision report should be updated to ensure that recommendations to the Government, minsitries, and sectors, especially the Minsitry of Education and Training, are relevant and implementable.

Chairman Man requested the report provide a comprehensive assessment of Vietnam’s high-quality workforce during 2021–2024 so as to forecast manpower demand for 2025–2030 and towards 2045, particularly in key sectors.

ౠ He emphasised that while there are numerous policies and programmes on high-quality human resources development, implementation remains the weakest link, often lacking tangible results. Given this, he requested special attention to implementation, and that the concept of “high-quality” must be clarified — not just nominally used./.