The move will depend on the adoption of a new decree by the Ministry of Home Affairs, said Nguyen Thanh Hoa, senior expert in the Salary Department.

Hoa said the new decree stated that civil servants would get their severance allowances if they resigned voluntarily with written approval from authorised organisations - or were forced to resign by organisations after two consecutive years of poor performance.

Severance allowances will be calculated on the number of years of work multiplied by half the current salary.

In a worst-case scenario, civil servants will receive an allowance package equivalent to one month of their current salary.

Hoa said the new decree aimed to improve work efficiency and reduce the often complacent and slack attitudes of civil servants.

He said the new decree would replace Decree 54/2005/ND-CP on resignation and training compensation conditions as well as Decree 143/2007/ND-CP on retirement procedures for civil servants.

The draft of the new decree is being sent to government organisations and the public for feedback and opinions.

The new decree will be presented for approval to the Prime Minister in August. It is expected to come into effect on January 1, 2010.

VNN/VNS