Nghệ An province has recently passed a resolution granting a monthly allowance of up to 22.7 million VND (approximately $950) to non-professional officials in rural areas, including village leaders and community organizers. This decision was made during the fourth session of the 21st Provincial People's Council and is part of efforts to improve local governance.

The allowance for non-professional officials, such as the village secretary and community leaders, is set at a maximum of nine times the base salary, which currently stands at 2,530,000 VND. This means that for areas with over 1,000 households, the monthly allowance can exceed 22 million VND, while areas with fewer households will receive a slightly lower amount.

The resolution categorizes rural areas into two groups for allowance purposes. Group one, which includes regions with significant challenges, will receive a higher allowance, while group two will receive a slightly reduced amount. Specifically, the monthly allowance for village secretaries and community leaders in group one is 7.8 million VND, while in group two, it is 6.5 million VND.

Additionally, community organizers will receive allowances ranging from 5.8 million to 7 million VND depending on the group classification. The resolution also allocates operational funds for community groups, with group one receiving 5 million VND per year and group two receiving 4 million VND.

According to Hoàng Nghĩa Hiếu, the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, this new policy is designed to provide additional support to local officials, especially in the wake of recent administrative consolidations that have increased their responsibilities. The resolution aims to motivate these officials to work effectively in their expanded roles, thereby enhancing the overall governance and political effectiveness at the local level.