Circular No. 21/2023/TT-BCA on the recruitment of citizens into the People's Police of Vietnam

CIRCULAR

Regulations on Selecting Citizens for the People's Police Force

Pursuant to the Law on People's Police dated November 20, 2018;

Pursuant to Decree No. 01/2018/NĐ-CP dated August 6, 2018 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Public Security;

At the proposal of the Director of the Cadre and Civil Servant Management Department;

The Minister of Public Security promulgates this Circular to regulate the selection of citizens for the People's Police Force.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates principles, subjects, conditions, standards, methods, procedures for selecting citizens to serve under a professional system or recruitment system in the People's Police Force; responsibilities of agencies, organizations, and individuals in selecting citizens for the People's Police Force.

Selection through the method of enrolling in university-level training programs for the People's Police Force for citizens who already have a bachelor’s degree or higher from non-People's Police Force institutions; selection through the method of enrolling high school students confirmed to meet direct admission criteria to universities to be sent for training at non-People's Police Force institutions; selection of citizens currently studying at bachelor’s level or higher at non-People's Police Force institutions shall be carried out in accordance with state regulations and the policies and regulations of the Ministry of Public Security as stipulated in other documents.

Article 2. Principles of Selection

1. In accordance with the tasks and staffing requirements of the People's Police Force.

2. Ensuring democracy, fairness, transparency, legality, and gender equality.

3. Ensuring compliance with Party regulations according to the principle of democratic centralism, collective decision-making, while fully exercising individual responsibility, especially that of the head, in the work of selecting cadres for the People's Police Force.

4. Ensuring the correct quota, position, job title, and meeting the required conditions and standards; ensuring competitiveness, the number of applicants for each quota must be at least twice the required quota (except for targeted selection).

5. Implementing reasonable preferential policies in selection for those with excellent professional expertise, technical skills, vocational knowledge, foreign language proficiency; those with talent; ethnic minorities; policy beneficiaries.

Article 3. Subjects of Selection

1. Officials, civil servants, public officials working in central and local ministries and sectors, or officers and professional soldiers serving in the Vietnam People's Army, personnel receiving salaries in the people's armed forces, personnel working in confidential organizations.

2. Vietnamese citizens not falling within the scope defined in Clause 1 of Article 3 of this Circular.

Article 4. Conditions for Selection

Implemented in accordance with the provisions of Clause 1 of Article 7 of the Law on the People's Police and the following provisions:

1. The People's Police Force has a need for staffing.

2. Possessing professional expertise, technical skills, vocational knowledge, and aptitude suitable for the requirements of the position, job title, and work to be recruited.

3. Meeting the selection standards prescribed in Article 5 of this Circular and voluntarily serving long-term in the People's Police Force. For cases specified in Clause 1 of Article 3 of this Circular, the years of service must be classified as having satisfactorily completed tasks or better by the agency or organization (where the citizen works); not during the period of implementing disciplinary measures or being under consideration for disciplinary action.

Article 5. Standards for Selection

1. Political Standards Ensuring political standards as prescribed by the Minister of Public Security and the following standards:

a) Having firm political resolve, absolutely loyal to the country, the people, the Party, and the State;

b) Having the ability and responsibility to complete assigned tasks, ready to fight and sacrifice to protect the Party, the State, the people, and the socialist regime, national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security;

c) Being honest, self-aware, strictly adhering to organizational discipline, having a high sense of revolutionary vigilance, and safeguarding state secrets.

2. Moral Character: Having good moral character and conduct.

3. Education Level

a) Having graduated (with a degree or graduation certificate issued), regular form of education (excluding joint-degree bachelor's programs), ranked (or classified) as good or better (except for foreign bachelor's degrees or master's, doctoral degrees without ranking or classification) and meeting one of the following standards:

For subjects of selection specified in Clause 1 of Article 3 of this Circular, they must have completed university-level training or higher;

For subjects of selection specified in Clause 2 of Article 3 of this Circular, they must have completed secondary, college, or higher vocational training (including secondary, college, and vocational college) or university-level training or higher.

Specifically, for selection to engage in police operations or state management functions according to the People's Police Force's mandate, only those with university-level training or higher will be selected.

b) For citizens who are ethnic minorities, those with a high school diploma or higher may be selected.

4. Age

From 18 to 30 years old (calculated up to the date of the temporary recruitment decision or the formal recruitment decision for cases not requiring temporary recruitment). Specifically, for citizens with a doctorate, specialist physician, associate specialist physician, resident physician, specialist pharmacist, associate specialist pharmacist in medical or pharmaceutical fields, ethnic minorities, those who have worked as contractual laborers in the People's Police Force for over five years, and cases specified in Clause 1 of Article 3 of this Circular, the age limit is 35; for professors and associate professors, the age limit is 40.

Meeting the health standards for selection into the People's Police as prescribed by the Minister of Public Security and the following provisions:

a) Height: For males, from 1.64 meters to 1.95 meters; for females, from 1.58 meters to 1.80 meters. Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated by dividing weight (unit: kilograms) by the square of height (unit: meters) should range from 18.5 to 30.

b) Vision: Unaided vision of each eye should be 9-10/10, total vision of both eyes should be 18-20/10; if there is refractive error, it should not exceed 3 diopters, corrected vision should be 9-10/10, total vision of both eyes should be 19-20/10 or higher.

c) Selecting citizens with scientific and technological qualifications to be assigned to technical operations, criminal technical work, information technology, cryptographic communications, cybersecurity, electronic warfare; medical doctors specializing at the first level, second-level medical specialists, internal medicine residents, first-level pharmaceutical specialists, second-level pharmaceutical specialists, masters, doctoral degree holders in the field of medicine and pharmacy; those holding professor or associate professor titles; ethnic minority citizens: The minimum height requirement set forth in point a of this Clause shall be reduced by two (2) centimeters for each gender; if there is refractive error in the eyes, it must not exceed five diopters, visual acuity through glasses must reach 10/10, and the total visual acuity of both eyes must be 19/10 or higher.

6. Aptitude

Citizens selected to be assigned to units engaged in police operational work must also be calm, sensitive, agile, and have good memory as required by the position being recruited, as determined by the local public security unit upon review.

7. For certain forces, units, and positions where specific recruitment criteria are stipulated by law and the Minister of Public Security, such criteria shall be followed.

Article 6. Recruitment Methods

1. The recruitment of citizens into the People's Police is carried out through a selection process that ensures the choice of individuals who meet the required qualities, qualifications, and capabilities.

2. In cases where measures have been taken to attract candidates but the number of applicants in the selection round does not comply with the principles specified in Clause 4 of Article 2 of this Circular, the local public security unit shall report to the Personnel Organization Department for consolidation and submission to the Minister for consideration and decision.

Article 7. Priority Order in Recruitment

1. Citizens meeting the conditions and criteria stipulated in Articles 4 and 5 of this Circular, when being considered for recruitment into the People's Police, will be awarded priority points according to the following specific groups:

a) Group 1: Citizens falling under any of the following categories will receive five (5) priority points: Citizens holding professor or associate professor titles; having doctoral degrees, second-level medical specialists, second-level pharmaceutical specialists in the fields of medicine and pharmacy; citizens who are the biological children, wives, or husbands of martyrs;

b) Group 2: Citizens falling under any of the following categories will receive four (4) priority points: Citizens with master’s degrees, first-level medical specialists, internal medicine residents, first-level pharmaceutical specialists in the fields of medicine and pharmacy;

c) Group 3: Citizens falling under any of the following categories will receive three (3) priority points: Citizens graduating from university with outstanding grades as specified in Article 2 of Decree No. 140/2017/NĐ-CP dated December 5, 2017 of the Government on policies to attract and create sources of cadres from outstanding graduates and young scientists; citizens graduating from university with excellent or good grades; citizens graduating from college, secondary vocational school, or primary vocational school with excellent or good grades and relevant expertise matching the recruitment criteria; citizens holding a second bachelor's degree or higher; citizens possessing one of the following language certificates: IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 or higher, TOEIC score of 900 or higher, TOEFL (PBT) score of 547 or higher, TOEFL (CBT) score of 210 or higher, TOEFL (iBT) score of 78 or higher, CEFR B2 or higher and equivalent.

d) Group 4: Citizens falling under any of the following categories will receive two (2) priority points: Citizens who are the biological children of: War invalids, war disabled veterans of the People's Police; public security officers and workers with continuous service in the public security sector for fifteen years or more; citizens who are the biological children of: War invalids, war disabled veterans, persons entitled to benefits similar to war invalids, persons affected by chemical toxins during wartime, Heroes of the Armed Forces, Labor Heroes;

đ) Group 5: Citizens falling under any of the following categories will receive one (1) priority point: Ethnic minority citizens or other citizens who have resided continuously for ten years or more in mountainous areas, highland regions, remote areas, border areas, islands, and regions with particularly difficult economic and social conditions, voluntarily joining the People's Police to serve long-term in these areas; citizens committing to voluntary service (for ten years or more) in mountainous areas, highland regions, deep rural areas, remote areas, border areas, islands, and regions with particularly difficult economic and social conditions.

2. If multiple applicants meet all the conditions and criteria for recruitment, then those belonging to priority groups will be selected. If an applicant has multiple priorities, all priorities will be added together, and the individual with the highest total priority points will be chosen. If multiple applicants have equal priority points, the competent authority as prescribed will consider and decide, based on which the head of the local public security unit will make the final recruitment decision.

Chapter II

ORGANIZATION OF CITIZEN RECRUITMENT INTO THE PEOPLE'S POLICE

Article 8. Application Registration Documents

1. The application registration documents include:

a) A handwritten voluntary service application form for the People's Public Security Forces;

b) A self-declared personal history statement (according to the common model of the Ministry of Public Security) confirmed by the People's Committee of the commune, ward, town where the applicant usually resides within thirty days from the date of submission of the application documents as prescribed;

c) A certified copy of the birth certificate;

d) A certified copy of the diploma and certificate obtained from training that meets the recruitment criteria and a certified transcript of the overall academic results (if available); decision recognizing the title of professor or associate professor (in cases of recruiting professors or associate professors). In cases where diplomas, certificates, and transcripts are issued by foreign educational institutions, they must be translated into Vietnamese (certified) and recognized as equivalent by the competent authority under the Ministry of Education and Training according to the provisions of the law;

đ) Certificate of membership in the Youth Union or the Communist Party (if applicable);

e) A certified copy of the confirmation document at points a (children, wife or husband of martyrs), d, đ of Clause 1, Article 7 of this Circular;

g) A health certificate issued by a hospital at the district level or higher within thirty days from the date of submission of the application documents as prescribed;

h) Four color photographs measuring 4cm x 6cm taken within six months from the date of submission of the application documents;

2. For cases specified in Clause 1, Article 3 of this Circular, in addition to the provisions of Clause 1 of this Article, the following documents shall be supplemented:

a) An employee's personal history record with confirmation from the workplace organization;

b) An evaluation and review of work performance with confirmation from the head of the workplace organization;

c) A certified copy of decisions on salary classification and promotion made by the competent authority;

Article 9. Recruitment Selection Board

1. The recruitment selection board of the Public Security unit or locality includes:

a) Chairman: Director, Commander, Chief of the Public Security of the province, centrally governed city and equivalent (hereinafter referred to collectively as the head of the Public Security unit or locality); or Deputy Director, Deputy Commander, Deputy Chief of the Public Security of the province, centrally governed city and equivalent (hereinafter referred to collectively as the Deputy head of the Public Security unit or locality) in charge in case of absence of the head or in cases stipulated in point e of this Clause;

b) Vice-Chairman: Deputy head of the Public Security unit or locality in charge of force building; or another deputy head appointed by the head in case of absence of the deputy head in charge of force building or in cases stipulated in point e of this Clause;

c) Member: Head or deputy head of the organizational cadre department, inspection, health, and related professional departments under the Public Security unit or locality;

d) Secretary: Cadre responsible for recruiting citizens into the People's Public Security Forces under the organizational cadre department of the Public Security unit or locality;

đ) Permanent Office: Organizational cadre department of the Public Security unit or locality;

e) Individuals who have a relationship as father, mother, brother, sister, or full-blooded sibling of the applicant or of the spouse of the applicant; spouse, biological or adopted child of the applicant or individuals currently under disciplinary review or serving a disciplinary decision; or those who have previously violated discipline in the recruitment of citizens into the People's Public Security Forces shall not be appointed as Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, member, secretary of the recruitment selection board, member of the permanent office, or assisting units of the recruitment selection board;

2. The recruitment selection board of the Public Security unit or locality has the following tasks and powers:

a) Assist the head of the Public Security unit or locality in implementing the recruitment of citizens into the People's Public Security Forces as prescribed;

b) Organize the examination of application registration documents, preliminary selection; examine and conclude political standards; check and conclude health standards, qualification conditions, aptitude, basic professional qualifications and capabilities of the applicant;

c) Summarize the recruitment examination results and submit them to the authorized party committee for consideration and decision, based on which the head of the Public Security unit or locality decides on recruitment;

d) Coordinate in handling complaints and denunciations during the recruitment examination process in accordance with the provisions of the law;

3. The recruitment selection board of the Public Security unit or locality operates on the principle of collective decision-making, concluding by majority vote (by secret ballot or show of hands as decided by the chairman of the board) and dissolves itself upon completion of its mission.

Article 10. Content of Selection

The selection of citizens into the People's Public Security shall be carried out in two rounds as follows:

1. Round 1 (the first round): Examination of the registration dossier according to Article 8 of this Circular, ensuring compliance with the recruitment quota and requirements for the position to be filled. If the candidate meets all the conditions, they will proceed to the second round.

2. Round 2 (the second round):

a) Interview to understand motivation, purpose, and willingness to serve in the People's Public Security. This content evaluates whether the candidate meets the criteria or not;

b) General knowledge test on the Party’s guidelines and policies, State laws regarding the People's Public Security, and testing of aptitudes and professional skills suitable for the recruitment quota and position. This content also evaluates whether the candidate meets the criteria or not. The content, methods of conducting interviews, general knowledge tests, aptitude tests, and skill assessments, as well as the evaluation of results for candidates, are decided by the head of the Public Security unit or locality.

Article 11. Determination of Successful Candidates

1. A person who is determined to be successful must meet the following conditions:

a) Meeting the conditions and standards stipulated in Articles 4 and 5 of this Circular;

b) Meeting the selection content specified in Article 10 of this Circular.

2. In cases where two or more candidates apply for the same recruitment quota and meet the conditions, standards, and selection content equally, then the competent authority according to regulations will consider and decide, based on which the head of the Public Security unit or locality will decide the successful candidate according to the priority order specified in Article 7 of this Circular.

In cases where there are still multiple candidates equal after considering the priority orders, the head of the Public Security unit or locality will consider and decide the successful candidate. Results of the selection process cannot be reserved for subsequent recruitment periods.

Article 12. Recruitment Process for Citizens into the People's Public Security

1. Plan Development

Based on the quota approved by the Minister of Public Security, the organizational personnel department of the Public Security unit or locality develops a plan to organize the recruitment of citizens into the People's Public Security, which is submitted to the head of the Public Security unit or locality for signing and issuing the plan. The plan should clearly state the number of positions to be recruited, the specific job positions; the required fields, majors, forms, and levels of training; recruitment standards and conditions; sources of recruitment, time for receiving applications, assignment of responsibilities, and implementation organization (for targeted recruitment, the head of the Public Security unit or locality decides the content of the recruitment plan appropriately).

2. Announcement of Recruitment and Acceptance of Applications

a) Based on the recruitment plan for citizens into the People's Public Security of the Public Security unit or locality, the organizational personnel department publicly announces through at least one mass media channel such as radio, newspaper, television, or online media, and simultaneously posts on the electronic information website of the Public Security unit or locality (if available), and publicly posts at the workplace about the standards, conditions, number of positions to be recruited, application procedures, and locations for receiving applications (for targeted recruitment, the head of the Public Security unit or locality decides the appropriate announcement method). For recruitment of specialized units requiring confidentiality about the intended recruit, only announcements for internal staff to recommend candidates while maintaining confidentiality are made;

b) The organizational personnel department arranges staff to directly accept applications. The location for accepting applications must post all necessary procedures to facilitate the submission of applications by candidates. Only applications that match the needs and comply with the prescribed procedures will be accepted; those that do not meet the requirements will be returned immediately to the applicant. When accepting applications, a record book must be established to accurately record information about the applicants and the order of application submission;

c) The period for accepting applications from candidates applying for recruitment is at least 30 working days from the date of the recruitment announcement.

3. Establishment of the Recruitment Committee and Organization of Selection

Within 15 days after the end of the announcement of the quota and acceptance of applications, based on the application dossiers, the organizational personnel department reports to the head of the Public Security unit or locality to issue a decision to establish the Recruitment Committee to carry out the tasks specified in Article 10 of this Circular.

4. Announcement of Recruitment Results

Within five working days from the completion of the selection process, the Recruitment Committee must publicly post and send written notifications of the recruitment results to the candidates at the addresses registered by the candidates or contact them directly to receive the notification at the organizational personnel department of the Public Security unit or locality.

5. Decision on Temporary Recruitment and Official Recruitment of Citizens into the People's Public Security

After implementing the provisions of Clause 4 of this Article, the Recruitment Committee will unify the list of successful candidates in the recruitment period, report to the competent authority for consideration and decision, based on which the head of the Public Security unit or locality will issue a temporary recruitment decision or an official recruitment decision for cases that do not require temporary recruitment.

For cases stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 3 of this Circular, before the organizational personnel department proposes a decision by the head of the Public Security unit or locality, the candidate must submit a discharge decision, a transfer decision, or a document agreeing to transfer work issued by the competent authority managing cadres.

6. Announcement of Temporary Recruitment and Official Recruitment Decisions for Citizens into the People's Public Security

Within seven working days from the date the head of the Public Security unit or locality issues a temporary recruitment decision or an official recruitment decision for cases that do not require temporary recruitment, the organizational personnel department must notify the citizen in writing at their current workplace to receive their duties and, together with the direct user unit, organize the announcement and handover of the decision to the temporarily recruited or officially recruited individual into the People's Public Security.

Article 13. Temporary Recruitment

1. Citizens recruited into the People's Public Security must undergo temporary recruitment, except for the following cases:

a) Citizens holding the title of professor or associate professor;

b) Individuals with a master’s degree, doctoral degree, specialist doctor level I, specialist doctor level II, resident physician, specialist pharmacist level I, and specialist pharmacist level II in the fields of medicine and pharmacy, or those who graduated from university with excellent grades;

c) Citizens who have completed university, college, vocational intermediate-level education; college vocational training; intermediate-level vocational training, basic-level vocational training and have worked under labor contracts at public security units or localities for six months or more, and are selected and assigned to positions consistent with their contracted work;

d) Citizens belonging to ethnic minorities or other citizens who have resided continuously for ten years or more in mountainous areas, highlands, remote areas, border regions, islands, and areas with particularly difficult economic and social conditions, and are recruited and assigned to long-term positions in these areas;

đ) Cases specified in Clause 1, Article 3 and Clause 1, Article 17 of this Circular;

2. The period of temporary recruitment is six months, starting from the date the decision on temporary recruitment takes effect. Maternity leave according to social insurance regulations and sick leave according to the law shall not be counted towards the period of temporary recruitment;

3. During the period of temporary recruitment, individuals shall not be transferred, assigned, or appointed to different positions within the same agency or unit, or to other agencies or units. Citizens temporarily recruited in business units shall not be assigned to tasks related to police business secrets;

Article 14. Official Recruitment of Citizens into the People's Public Security after Completion of the Temporary Recruitment Period

1. Twenty working days before the end of the temporary recruitment period, citizens undergoing temporary recruitment must submit a written report on the results of their duties; officers responsible for guiding and evaluating the performance of temporarily recruited citizens must provide comments and assessments to the head of the unit directly managing and using the temporarily recruited personnel;

2. The leadership team of the unit directly managing and using temporarily recruited citizens shall convene a meeting to assess and evaluate the political qualities, morals, and duty performance of the temporarily recruited personnel as either "meeting requirements" or "not meeting requirements" (with minutes of the meeting recorded), and send it to the organizational cadre department for consolidation and reporting;

3. The organizational cadre department shall review the reports from the units, consolidate them, seek opinions from authorized party bodies according to regulations for consideration and decision-making, based on which the head of the public security unit or locality shall decide on the official recruitment and assignment according to the recruitment quota and the position held during the temporary recruitment period (except for recruitment into business units where tasks related to police business secrets were not assigned during the temporary recruitment period);

Article 15. Revocation of Temporary Recruitment and Official Recruitment Decisions

1. The decisions on temporary recruitment and official recruitment of citizens shall be revoked if they fall into any of the following cases:

a) Individuals undergoing temporary recruitment or official recruitment fail to report for duty within the prescribed time limit of fifteen days without the consent of the authorized authority, or violate the law and are punished with a warning or higher penalty;

b) Individuals undergoing temporary recruitment fail to complete their tasks or commit errors during the temporary recruitment period;

c) They do not belong to the recruitment target group or do not meet the conditions and standards stipulated in Articles 4 and 5 of this Circular, or are recruited beyond the approved educational level, profession, or job category without reporting to the authorized body for examination before making the decision;

d) Temporary recruitment or official recruitment is conducted without being allocated quotas or exceeding the approved recruitment quotas by the Minister of Public Security;

đ) Temporary recruitment or official recruitment does not follow the prescribed procedures;

e) The authorized body discovers signs of corruption or misconduct in the recruitment of citizens into the People's Public Security;

2. Citizens whose temporary recruitment and official recruitment decisions are revoked, or who do not meet the requirements for official recruitment after the completion of the temporary recruitment period, must commit in writing not to disclose the tasks assigned to them or any knowledge related to the agencies or units where they were temporarily recruited or officially recruited;

3. In cases where the temporary recruitment and official recruitment decisions are revoked as stipulated in point a, Clause 1 of this Article, the public security unit or locality with the authority to make such decisions shall recruit individuals with the next highest examination results (if there is still time to implement the recruitment quota).

Article 16. Time limit for implementing recruitment targets and reporting on recruitment results

1. The time limit for implementing the recruitment target of citizens into the People's Public Security is twelve months from the date of issuance of the announcement by the Personnel Department. After this period, local public security agencies absolutely must not continue to recruit according to the announced target (except in cases where a report has been approved by the Minister). In cases where there are objective reasons (requiring extended time for verification, investigation, and conclusion regarding political standards, health, and credentials of candidates), local public security agencies must exchange views and obtain written agreement from the Personnel Department before continuing implementation. The extension period in such cases shall not exceed two months and can only be granted once.

2. Within fifteen days from the date of announcing temporary and formal recruitment decisions, local public security agencies must report the recruitment results to the Personnel Department for management purposes. The report content includes: recruitment targets, number of applicants for each target, qualifications and conditions of each applicant, procedures for establishing the board, process of organizing the selection, determining successful candidates, and issuing temporary and formal recruitment decisions.

Article 17. Application of recruitment regulations for cases of job title conversion and cadre deployment according to mission requirements

1. For cases working at enterprises or public service units within the People's Public Security under the category of labor contract employment, but due to mission adjustment, organizational changes, or being appointed to positions that do not require signing a labor contract as stipulated by the Minister of Public Security on labor contract employment in the People's Public Security (recruitment into the establishment), they must meet the conditions and standards set forth in Articles 4 and 5 of this Circular.

2. Public Security workers transitioning from labor contract employment to non-commissioned officers or warrant officers in operational fields or advisory and state management roles must meet the standards specified in point a, Clause 3, Article 5 of this Circular.

Article 18. Acceptance into the People's Public Security

1. Acceptance Objectives

a) Officials, civil servants, and employees currently working in central and local ministries and agencies, or officers and professional military personnel serving in the Vietnam People's Army, individuals receiving salaries in the people's armed forces, or those working in confidential organizations;

b) Individuals who were previously Public Security officials and have now expressed a desire to return to work in the Public Security (having completed their duties in the Public Security without disciplinary violations or having been disciplined);

2. Qualifications and Conditions for Acceptance

a) Meeting the conditions stipulated in Clauses 1 and 2 of Article 4 of this Circular and voluntarily serving long-term in the People's Public Security;

b) Meeting the political standards, moral qualities, academic qualifications, certificates, and health conditions stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, and 5 of Article 5 and point a, Clause 3 of Article 5 of this Circular; not currently undergoing disciplinary action or under disciplinary review; annual performance evaluations must be rated as satisfactorily completing tasks or higher by the agency or organization (where the citizen works); remaining service time in the position after acceptance must comply with regulations;

c) For acceptance to hold leadership or command positions in the People's Public Security, they must meet the qualifications and conditions stipulated in points a and b above; general standards of character, capability, reputation, and knowledge required for leadership or command positions as prescribed; having a minimum of five years of actual work experience relevant to the field of acceptance (except for individuals who were previously Public Security officials) and holding equivalent positions (or must be in the planning for equivalent positions) within the political system as prescribed; the accepting unit must still have the required leadership or command structure as prescribed.

3. Documentation for individuals eligible for acceptance: Includes the documentation components as prescribed in Clause 2 of Article 8 of this Circular.

4. For acceptance to be assigned as Public Security officers or non-commissioned officers (without holding leadership or command positions), the head of the local public security agency must establish a Verification Board. The composition, responsibilities, and authority of the Verification Board and the organization of verification and acceptance procedures follow the same principles as the Selection Board and selection procedures stipulated in Articles 9, 10, 11, and 12 of this Circular.

5. For acceptance to hold leadership or command positions in the People's Public Security, it is reviewed, proposed, and decided upon by the Party Committee of the local public security agency as prescribed. Individuals eligible for acceptance must fully meet the acceptance qualifications and conditions stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article. The decision-making authority for acceptance and assignment to positions follows the regulations of the Minister of Public Security on the division of responsibilities among various levels of public security agencies regarding certain issues in the organizational and cadres affairs of the Public Security force.

Article 19. Promotion of rank, salary classification, and assignment, utilization

1. Based on educational qualifications (in accordance with recruitment criteria, acceptance), military rank, salary coefficient, time of mandatory social insurance contribution (if any), and assigned professional tasks, individuals recruited and accepted into the People's Public Security are considered for promotion of rank and salary classification according to the regulations of the Minister of Public Security.

2. The assignment and utilization of cadres must be based on their trained specialty and job positions according to recruitment criteria, acceptance. For cases with primary, intermediate, and college level qualifications (including vocational primary, intermediate, and college levels) recruited to be assigned to technical specialist, clerical, medical, driving, police worker, and other administrative support jobs, they can only be sent for further specialized training after at least 10 years of work (for those sent for concurrent university education) or at least 8 years (for those sent for regular intermediate-level training for cadres), if there is a need from the local public security agency and the cadre meets the required standards and conditions.

3. Within three consecutive years from the date of recruitment and acceptance, if a cadre has low productivity, quality, and effectiveness in work and is classified as not completing tasks for two consecutive years, or has been disciplined twice or more times (if disciplined by the party organization, government, or mass organizations for the same violation, it counts as one disciplinary action), then the local public security agency will consider and resolve to terminate service in the People's Public Security. In this case, the cadre does not need to submit a resignation request.

Article 20. Management of files

1. Local public security agencies have the responsibility to establish and store personal files of cadres. All developments during the course of work of cadres from temporary recruitment, recruitment, acceptance to termination of service must be recorded in the cadre's file. The establishment, management, and storage of cadre files are carried out according to the cadre management hierarchy.

2. In cases where the decision on temporary recruitment or recruitment is revoked, the individual cannot reclaim the recruitment file. The local public security agency retains the file according to regulations.

Article 21. Responsibilities of Police Units and Localities

1. Units under the Ministry of Public Security, provincial and centrally-administered city public security agencies

a) Disseminate and implement regulations on recruiting citizens into the People's Public Security to officers and soldiers of local public security agencies;

b) Based on staffing situations and needs for each job position, guide subordinate local public security agencies to implement and propose recruitment quotas for citizens into the People's Public Security;

c) Establish a recruitment, inspection committee, and strictly organize temporary recruitment, recruitment, and acceptance in accordance with regulations;

d) Be responsible before the Minister of Public Security for organizing recruitment, acceptance, assignment, and utilization of cadres; resolving complaints and reports regarding recruitment and acceptance according to laws on complaints and reports;

đ) Fully implement policies for citizens during temporary recruitment and upon recruitment and acceptance; organize training, instruction, and professional development for recruited and accepted individuals; assign and utilize according to management hierarchy;

e) Based on specific operational and combat characteristics, security and intelligence units may supplement conditions and standards for candidates and examination content but must not contradict provisions in this Circular.

2. The Cadre and Civil Servant Organization Department

a) Advise and propose policies and plans for recruiting people into the People's Public Security annually or as required by tasks;

b) Guide local public security agencies to determine needs, develop plans, and implement recruitment and acceptance according to regulations, meeting the requirements and tasks of the People's Public Security;

c) Review, consolidate, and submit to the Minister of Public Security for approval the recruitment quotas for people into the People's Public Security for each local public security agency and review cases specified in Clause 2, Article 25 of this Circular;

d) Monitor, urge, guide, and inspect the implementation of recruitment and acceptance of people into the People's Public Security by local public security agencies;

đ) Fulfill responsibilities stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Units directly managing and utilizing cadres (at the department level and equivalent)

a) Annually, based on staffing situations, needs, and guidance from superiors, propose recruitment quotas for citizens into the People's Public Security for their unit; coordinate to organize recruitment and acceptance according to functions and superior requirements;

b) Guide temporarily recruited individuals to understand internal rules, working regulations of the agency, unit, state secrets protection regulations of the public security sector, and practice tasks they will undertake after recruitment and acceptance;

c) At the latest within three working days from the date the citizen starts work, the head of the unit must assign a capable and experienced staff member to guide the temporarily recruited individual in accordance with the practical work requirements of the unit.

Article 22. Responsibilities of citizens temporarily recruited, selected, and accepted into the People's Police

1. Citizens must report for duty on the date, month, and year specified in the decision on temporary recruitment, selection, or acceptance. In cases where there are valid reasons preventing them from reporting for duty within the time limit stated in the decision, they must submit a request for extension and obtain the consent of the direct managing unit head. The duration of each extension shall not exceed five working days and may not be extended more than twice.

2. When reporting for duty, citizens must write a commitment not to seek out or come into contact with state secrets or materials belonging to the Police Department without authorization; not to disclose assigned tasks or information related to the agency or unit where they have been temporarily recruited, selected, or accepted.

3. To fulfill their duties and responsibilities, and refrain from actions prohibited for police officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers as stipulated in Articles 31 and 32 of the Law on the People's Police 2018.

Article 23. Handling of Responsibility

1. The head of the local police unit must bear responsibility for resolving issues related to the rights and legitimate interests of citizens when decisions on temporary recruitment or selection are revoked according to points c, d, đ, e of Clause 1, Article 15 of this Circular; at the same time, they must return to the State budget the portion of funds spent on salaries and policies based on the salary paid to the temporarily recruited or selected individual. Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, the Director of the Cadre and Personnel Department will submit to the Minister of Public Security for consideration whether to restrict or not grant the authority to decide on the recruitment and acceptance of citizens into the People's Police, and propose disciplinary measures according to the regulations set by the Minister of Public Security regarding the handling of discipline for police cadres and soldiers.

2. Staff directly involved in advising or proposing the recruitment and acceptance of citizens into the People's Police who intentionally violate rules or lack a sense of responsibility in their work (as concluded by the competent authority) or have been disciplined for misconduct (excluding the revocation of the title of People's Police Officer), depending on the nature and severity of the violation, will be subject to disciplinary action according to the regulations of the Minister of Public Security, and will not be assigned to work related to the recruitment of citizens into the People's Police.

3. Citizens temporarily recruited, selected, or accepted who report for duty beyond the time limit specified in the decision on temporary recruitment, selection, or acceptance without the consent of the direct using unit head, or who report for duty beyond the extended period as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 22 of this Circular, will be subject to disciplinary action according to the regulations of the Minister of Public Security or have their decision on temporary recruitment, selection, or acceptance revoked, depending on the nature and severity of the violation.

4. Any violations in the recruitment and acceptance of citizens into the People's Police, once concluded or decided upon by the competent authority, must be publicly announced within the local police unit, and if necessary, shared experiences, the Cadre and Personnel Department will issue a notice throughout the force.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 24. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from August 10, 2023, and replaces Circular No. 55/2019/TT-BCA dated November 11, 2019, issued by the Minister of Public Security on the recruitment of citizens into the People's Police.

2. In cases where the referenced documents in this Circular are amended, supplemented, replaced, or newly issued, the relevant contents of this Circular will also be adjusted according to the amended, supplemented, replaced, or newly issued documents.

Article 25. Transitional Provisions and Timeframe for Resolution

1. Cases of temporary recruitment and selection into the People's Police before this Circular takes effect shall continue to be implemented according to the provisions of Circular No. 55/2019/TT-BCA dated November 11, 2019, issued by the Minister of Public Security on the selection of citizens into the People's Police.

2. In cases where it is necessary to meet work requirements, combat needs, and the construction of the People's Police force, the Minister of Public Security shall consider, decide, or provide opinions on cases that do not fully meet the standards and conditions for selection and acceptance stipulated in this Circular prior to the heads of local police units making decisions on the selection and acceptance of officers into the People's Police within their delegated authority.

Article 26. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The head of local police units shall be responsible for organizing the implementation of this Circular.

2. The Director of the Cadre Organization Department shall be responsible for guiding and inspecting the implementation of this Circular; providing guidance on standardized forms to be used in the selection and acceptance of citizens into the People's Police.

Any difficulties encountered during the implementation process shall be reported to the Ministry (through the Cadre Organization Department) for consolidation and reporting to the Minister for consideration and decision./.