PROPOSAL TO EXPAND SOCIAL HOUSING POLICIES FOR STATE OFFICIALS AND CIVIL SERVANTS

Proposal to Include State Officials and Civil Servants in Housing Policies

Social housing remains a key policy area of public interest, as actual demand in many localities continues to be high. At some projects, the number of applications may significantly exceed the number of available social housing units.

In addition to social housing policies for low-income households, housing programs have also been developed for the armed forces and certain specialized groups.

Under the draft amended Housing Law, the drafting agency proposes a number of new policies concerning housing for the people's armed forces, as well as personnel working in the procuracy and court systems.

Based on these provisions, the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association (HoREA) has proposed considering additional housing policies for state officials, civil servants and public employees who do not belong to the armed forces, procuracy or court sectors.

Under the proposal, the draft law could introduce a definition of housing for state officials, civil servants and public employees, referring to social housing developed for sale, lease-purchase or rental to eligible individuals in accordance with the law.

HoREA believes that including this group would help create greater consistency in housing policies, particularly as some state officials and public employees may face difficulties accessing housing that matches their financial capacity.

The association also highlighted the issue of commuting distances. Following the restructuring and consolidation of administrative units, some officials and public employees may have to travel farther to their workplaces.

HoREA therefore recommends that, if the proposal is accepted, the draft law should include specific provisions on mechanisms for developing and managing housing for state officials, civil servants and public employees.

Proposal to Expand Worker Accommodation Beyond Industrial Parks

In addition to housing policies for state officials and civil servants, HoREA has also proposed adjustments to regulations concerning worker accommodation.

According to the association, the draft law should clearly classify worker accommodation as a form of social housing to ensure consistency in terminology and policy.

Another issue concerns the locations where such accommodation can be developed. Many manufacturing enterprises employing large numbers of workers are located outside industrial parks or industrial clusters.

HoREA argues that if policies are limited to enterprises located within industrial parks, a significant number of workers employed at production facilities outside these areas may continue to face difficulties in finding suitable accommodation.

The association cited the example of a large-scale manufacturing enterprise in Ho Chi Minh City employing tens of thousands of workers, many of whom are migrant workers. As the enterprise is located outside an industrial park, many employees have to rent rooms in nearby residential areas, creating substantial demand for shuttle services and adding pressure to local traffic infrastructure.

Based on such circumstances, HoREA believes it is necessary to consider mechanisms allowing worker accommodation to be developed outside industrial parks, particularly in areas with a high concentration of manufacturing facilities and strong demand for worker housing.

Moving Toward Housing Policies That Better Reflect Actual Demand

The proposals above reflect a broader approach to housing policy, focusing not only on increasing the supply of social housing but also on identifying groups and locations with genuine housing needs.

If studied and incorporated into the legislation, expanding housing policies for state officials, civil servants and public employees, together with worker accommodation outside industrial parks, could help diversify the supply of housing tailored to different groups of workers.

However, these measures are currently proposals under consultation and consideration during the drafting process and do not yet constitute effective legal provisions. Their eventual implementation will depend on the final contents considered and approved by the competent authorities.