Government positions at Hai Duong Province Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs are suspected to have been sold as it has 44 deputies or heads of offices out of 46 employees.

Some people were promoted just three months after being employed. Luu Van Ban, former director of Hai Duong Province Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs alone promoted 44 people to leading positions before being transferred to work as Party Secretary of Chi Linh District.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to inspect the case and report by November 10.

Hai Duong Province Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs

NA Deputy Tran Du Lich commented that "There are too many officials, how can people support them all?"

These positions are not fallen leaves by Hoan Kiem Lake that can be picked up and given to everybody. If this case is not dealt with, it will set a bad precedent and have negative consequences.

When being questioned how can they work if there are only leaders, Ban said admitted that the number was higher than normal.

He said, "If we just think about the number then I'm at fault. But I didn't do it for personal interests. When I promoted them, I did it for the employees and the people. They are young, who had just graduated and had low wages. But they are passionate and want to contribute. I did that to encourage them."

Well, he did promote many employees and made the leader team bigger. 44 employees now have higher wages, bonuses and better positions so it's absolutely true that he "did it for the employees”. Those employees are just regular public members before their promotion so it's also true that he did it for "the people".

This method is so good why don't we expand it further? For the people in Hai Duong Province, government should promote 2,470,000 people to be leaders at state agencies. Then the whole province will be officials. Ecstasy!

It was just three months ago, on August 9, that news broke out that Thanh Hoa Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has eight deputies even though only three are allowed according to Decree 24 on organisation of agencies under people's committees.

Hai Duong Province makes Thanh Hoa case look trivial.

On November 10, the inspection will be concluded and everyone can see whether Ban's decisions are really in the interests of the employees and the people. And it is hoped that the comments from NA Deputy Duong Trung Quoc wouldn't come true.

"We can't exclude the possibility that the positions were bought and sold. Similar cases have been detected at various agencies when officials abuse their power just before their terms end. The excuse is improving human resources but everyone can see that the positions are sold," Quoc said.