Evaluating civil servants based on KPI, overcoming the situation of emotional year-end scoring

The evaluation of civil servants according to KPI (criteria for performance of civil servants' tasks) will start from January 1, 2026.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is seeking comments on a draft Decree regulating the mechanism for evaluating State administrative agencies and civil servants, and will send it to the Ministry of Justice for appraisal before submitting it to the Government for promulgation.

The draft Decree supplements methods for monitoring and evaluating civil servants periodically (monthly, quarterly), with the application of KPIs and transparent scoring formulas.

The evaluation method will be based on two main principles: Quantifying work products: Each product/work is converted to a "standard product/work unit" according to criteria of volume, complexity, progress, technique, etc. to create a basis for uniform evaluation, avoiding individualization; Evaluation according to three criteria axes: Quantity, quality, progress.

Monitoring and evaluation scores are calculated according to the formula: (Total score of general criteria x 30%) + (Total score of KPI x 70%), ensuring recognition of general qualitative criteria (30%); while emphasizing actual task performance results (70%).

Based on the total score, civil servants are classified into 4 levels: Excellent performance: 90 points or more; Good performance: 70 to less than 90 points; Performance: 50 to less than 70 points; Failure to perform: Less than 50 points or violation of discipline, degradation of character, responsibility to set an example...

The results of monitoring, evaluating and classifying civil servants will be used as a direct basis to determine additional income and bonuses; consider arranging and transferring suitable job positions; and screen and remove from the system those who do not meet job requirements.

With this new approach, each cadre and civil servant will be "measured" by their capacity, products and actual effectiveness, creating motivation to strive and encouraging innovation and creativity.

Talking to Lao Dong, National Assembly delegate Ta Thi Yen ( Dien Bien delegation) emphasized that the assessment based on the results of performing assigned tasks and work by month, quarter, and 6 months, through quantitative criteria such as quantity, quality, and progress of products according to each job position, is a breakthrough and necessary step in administrative reform .

The female delegate said that this is a modern approach, shifting from emotional qualitative criteria to clear quantitative criteria, similar to the KPI model in the business sector.

Using specific indicators for evaluation helps to accurately, transparently and fairly reflect the work performance of cadres and civil servants - a particularly important factor in the context of the current requirement to improve the quality of the civil service.

Currently, there are many KPI assessment software used in the business sector in Vietnam and some of them have the potential to be adapted for application in the public sector.

Previously, Mr. Nguyen Quang Dung - Head of the Department of Civil Servants and Public Employees ( Ministry of Home Affairs ) - said that currently, the evaluation of civil servants is mostly a formality when the majority are classified as "performing their tasks well". Meanwhile, the private sector has applied KPI for a long time because it is easier to quantify work.

Building KPIs in the public sector is more difficult because the nature of administrative work is difficult to measure. Therefore, KPI assessment in the public sector needs to combine quantitative and qualitative measures, including: processing progress, document quality and citizen satisfaction.

Previously, Khanh Hoa pioneered in issuing a set of tools to measure and evaluate work performance (KPI) for cadres, civil servants and public employees, contributing to overcoming limitations in cadre evaluation; Ninh Thuan is also implementing a roadmap to apply KPI.

According to Tien Phong Newspaper

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/xa-hoi/202510/danh-gia-cong-chuc-theo-kpi-khac-phuc-tinh-trang-cham-diem-cam-tinh-cuoi-nam-35b6790/