VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City administrative agencies are still up to their ears in paperwork, despite a directive issued two years ago that encouraged offices to enter data on computers.

The People’s Committee’s directive asked administrative agencies at all levels to reduce printed documents, simplify procedures and increase information technology application.

The direction was in line with the Government’s decision to ask administrative agencies nationwide to reduce the volume of printed documents and use the internet for information exchange.

Overloaded

Hoang Thi To Nga, head of the District 1 People’s Council and Committee Office, said her district received 120-150 administrative documents and papers a day and most of them were sent from the city People’s Committee and the Department of Construction.

The office’s letter division was overloaded with paperwork management, Nga said.

By the end of November, Nga’s office had received 2,000 to 3,000 more documents than it had the entire last year.

The Tan Binh District People’s Council and Committee Office receives 50-70 administrative documents and papers a day, many of them requiring duplication for archiving purposes. Administrative officials blame the slowdown on computerisation of the growing number of documents.

In addition, many administrative officials often require documents and papers sent to them by the use of post or fax because they require seals.

Despite being the leading district in applying IT in administration management, District 1 has only begun to digitise papers since 2006, according to Nga.

Since early this year, the district has digitised all administrative documents and papers and only archived the originals in the storehouse, she added.

The offices also work on Saturday, but the extra time has not lent more efficiency to the processing of documents.

Nguyen Trung Son, deputy head of the Tan Binh District People’s Council and Committee Office, said the number of people who came to the Tan Binh District People’s Committee on Saturdays was equal to only one-tenth that of other working days.

Only notary offices and the city Department of Planning and Investment have a large quantity of applications on Saturdays.

The city decided last year that administrative agencies work on Saturdays, following a directive from the Prime Minister in August 2007.

(Source: Viet Nam News)