The National Wage Council held its second meeting in 2025 - Photo: VGP/TG
On the morning of July 11, the National Wage Council held its second meeting in 2025. Previously, at the first meeting of the National Wage Council (held on June 26), the relevant parties could not find a common voice on the proposed regional minimum wage.
At that time, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor proposed two options to increase the minimum wage to ensure a minimum living standard for workers. Those options were to increase by 9.2% and 8.3%. The Vietnam Confederation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) proposed an adjustment of 3% to 5%. In addition, the Council's Technical Department also proposed an increase in the regional minimum wage of 6.5% to 7%.
Information about the voting results to approve the regional minimum wage plan for 2026 at the 2nd meeting, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs , Chairman of the National Wage Council Nguyen Manh Khuong said that 13/16 council members (3 members abstained) voted in favor of the regional minimum wage plan for 2026.
“After exchanging and discussing, and the parties put forward many assumptions and situations, especially factors related to the country's economic development, the council members highly agreed with the plan of increasing the regional minimum wage by 7.2% in 2026, with the increase date being January 1, 2026,” said Mr. Nguyen Manh Khuong.
The Chairman of the National Wage Council assessed that this is a good rate, suitable for the current stage of the country's economic development, towards the era of national development as well as the economic growth target of 8% according to the Party's policy this year and double digits in the following years.
Specifically, the plan to increase the regional minimum wage in 2026 was "finalized" by the National Wage Council and submitted to the Government as an average increase of 7.2%, an average increase of 300,000 VND/month compared to 2025.
Minimum wage in Region I increased from 4.96 million VND/month to 5.31 million VND/month (an increase of 350,000 VND, 7.1%); Region II increased from 4.41 million VND/month to 4.73 million VND/month (an increase of 320,000 VND, 7.3%); Region III increased from 3.86 million VND/month to 4.14 million VND/month (an increase of 280,000 VND, 7.3%); Region IV increased from 3.45 million VND/month to 3.7 million VND/month (an increase of 250,000 VND, 7.2%).
Speaking to the press right after the meeting, Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Vice President of the National Wage Council, said that the proposed 7.2% increase in regional minimum wages from January 1, 2026 met the expectations of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor. This increase meets the wishes of union members and workers nationwide, and also demonstrates the spirit of sharing the difficulties of businesses.
This proposed increase will improve the lives of workers to some extent, because in reality, businesses themselves have generally higher wages than the minimum wage. This is a reference wage primarily for workers in the minimum wage group, and other groups can also be referenced to build wages.
"I believe that this salary will also motivate workers to work with enthusiasm, to strive together to achieve the 8% growth target this year and from next year onwards, we can achieve the double-digit growth target," said Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu.
Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu also added that after the Government officially decides to increase the regional minimum wage in 2026, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor will organize the implementation and propagate for workers to agree and support this increase to continue to work with high productivity, good quality, and develop businesses together so that the whole country can enter a new era.
According to Mr. Hoang Quang Phong, Vice President of the Vietnam Confederation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Vice President of the National Wage Council, with this plan, employers will have to readjust their jobs and at the same time need to be highly determined in improving management capacity, assigning appropriate work, applying science and technology and improving other management conditions. This is to ensure that business development indicators are maintained, protect the number of jobs as well as retain workers, especially skilled workers.
Mr. Hoang Quang Phong affirmed: "We will work with businesses to operate training programs to help businesses meet their own requirements and desires while meeting the development requirements of the national economy."
Thu Giang
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/chot-trinh-chinh-phu-phuong-an-tang-luong-toi-thieu-vung-72-tu-ngay-1-1-2026-102250711140443179.htm
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