The Ministry of Home Affairs in Vietnam has provided guidance on how to determine the salary and allowances for calculating benefits for Deputy Leaders of local military commands under Decree No. 154/2025/ND-CP. This response addresses concerns raised by individuals in these positions regarding their entitlements following the implementation of a two-tier local government model.

One individual, referred to as Mr. Dang Van Binh (a pseudonym), who previously held the position of Deputy Leader of a local military command, sought clarification on whether the benefits provided under Decree 154/2025/ND-CP would include various allowances such as leadership allowances, special defense allowances, and seniority allowances. He requested guidance on the legal basis and specific methods for determining the benefits associated with his role.

In response to Mr. Binh's inquiries, the Ministry clarified that the current salary and monthly allowances of civil servants, including those in non-professional roles at the local level, are considered when calculating benefits for downsizing under the aforementioned decree. The salary used for this calculation is the salary from the month immediately preceding the downsizing, which includes base salary, allowances for leadership roles, seniority allowances, and any applicable salary preservation coefficients as per legal regulations.

For individuals who are currently on unpaid leave or receiving sick leave benefits, the salary considered for benefits will be the salary from the month prior to their leave, using the base salary rate from that same month before the downsizing.

The Ministry also noted that if a non-professional individual at the local level holds multiple roles, the monthly allowance for calculating benefits will only include the allowance for the current role and not for any additional roles held.

Additionally, Articles 12 and 14 of Decree No. 154/2025/ND-CP delegate authority to local governments to manage the downsizing policies for civil servants and employees under their jurisdiction. The Ministry encourages citizens to contact the relevant local authorities for assistance regarding their specific situations.