District administrative specialists in Vietnam must be able to use foreign languages

According to Clause 3, Article 6 of Circular 02/2021/TT-BNV, amended by Clause 3, Article 1 of Circular 06/2022/TT-BNV, the main specialists need to meet the following requirements of competence:

"Article 6. Main Specialist

1. Duties:

Being an official with high professional expertise in one or several areas of state management within agencies or administrative organizations from the district level and above, responsible for research, policy development, or carrying tasks of leading and directing the organization and implementation of policies and laws at the district level and above.

...

3. Standards of profession and competence:

a) Mastering the Party's guidelines, laws related to the field, and specialized knowledge and skills in the field of state management;

b) Being capable of participating in the development of legislative documents, projects, programs, action plans, and guidance for implementing regulations on state management in the field or local workplace;

c) Understanding the development trends and situations of the field of work both domestically and internationally; being able to organize research to serve management and handle management information;

d) Having the ability to work independently or in coordination with a team; having skills in drafting documents and presenting research and advisory issues;

e) Having basic information technology skills, being able to use a foreign language at Level 3 of the Vietnamese Foreign Language Proficiency Framework, or being able to use the language of an ethnic minority for officials working in ethnic minority areas, as required by the job position."

Point d, Clause 3, Article 6 above, is amended by Article 1 of Circular 06/2022/TT-BNV as follows:

"3. Amend point d, Clause 3, Article 6 as follows:

"d) Having basic information technology skills and being able to use a foreign language or being able to use the language of an ethnic minority for officials working in ethnic minority areas, as required by the job position.""

At the same time, Article 7 of Circular 02/2021/TT-BNV also stipulates the competence standards for the specialists as follows:

"Article 7. Specialist

Duties:

Being an official with basic professional expertise in agencies, administrative organizations from the district level and above, responsible for research, development, and organization of policy implementation and legal compliance in the field or locality.

...

3. Standards for profession and competence:

a) Firmly grasping the Party's guidelines, laws related to the field of work, objectives and target groups for management, and the system of principles and management mechanisms within the scope of work;

b) Being capable of participating in the development and guidance for implementing systems, policies, and regulations on state management in the field or locality; being able to participate in research to serve management and handle management information;

c) Having the ability to work independently or in coordination with a team; having skills in drafting documents and presenting research and proposals;

d) Having basic information technology skills, being able to use a foreign language at Level 3 of the Vietnamese Foreign Language Proficiency Framework, or being able to use the language of an ethnic minority for officials working in ethnic minority areas, as required by the job position."

Point d, Clause 3, Article 7 above, is amended by Article 1 of Circular 06/2022/TT-BNV as follows:

"5. Amend point d, Clause 3, Article 7 as follows:

"d) Having basic information technology skills and being able to use a foreign language or being able to use the language of an ethnic minority for officials working in ethnic minority areas, as required by the job position.""

Therefore, according to the new provisions in Circular 06/2022/TT-BNV, both officials who are main specialists (those responsible for leadership tasks) and specialists (regular specialists) must meet the standard of being able to use a foreign language or the language of an ethnic minority for officials working in ethnic minority areas, as required by the job position.