Digital transformation in Ho Chi Minh driven by remote working

The city pushes for digital transformation as information technology and online public services are convenient and helps save significant costs  

In Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is pushing for the enhancement of public services and promotion of digital transformation as workers are encouraged to work at home to help contain the spread of COVID-19, reported Vietnam News.  

The city People’s Committee issued a directing allowing half of officials of State agencies to work from home during the peak period of the pandemic. According to evaluations, the city departments, branches, and districts effectively used information technology to serve the public in the first week.  

Hence, the city believes this is a golden opportunity to promote digital transformation and enhance online public services.   

Nevertheless, Lê Minh Tấn, director of the municipal Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that civil servants who work in specific units such as social protection facilities and drug addiction treatment centers must be at their workplace.  

In terms of digital transformation, Đoàn Trần Hải Âu, chief of the People’s Council and People’s Committee in District 6, said the city aims to achieve over 70 percent and 40 percent of submitted files completed online in the district and ward administrative offices, respectively. 

Hải Âu said, ‘‘The pandemic has affected all sectors in general, but this is also an opportunity for us to promote the use of information technology and find solutions to increase the rate of electronic submissions. In the current situation, handling and submitting electronic records are almost a must-do, because electronic documents are very convenient, and we save a lot of money.” 

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Moreover, the city Department of Information and Communications has released guidance on the application of information technology during this time, and most state agencies have efficiently implemented duties.  

Lâm Đình Thắng, director of the city Department of Information and Communications, said that employees are familiar with the technology, as they’ve been working from home since last year.  

Nguyễn Đặng Phương Truyền, a lecturer at the National Academy of Public Administration, said that some government officials should be allowed to continue working from home post-pandemic as remote work saves travel time, reduces traffic congestion, and transportation costs.