'Wages increase by 1 dong, prices increase by 2 dong, making it even more difficult for workers who already have difficulty'

Besides the joy at the proposed wage increase, workers are also worried about the goods "splitting with water in the rain".

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (LOL, Invalids and Social Affairs) is collecting comments on the Draft Decree stipulating the minimum wage for employees working under labor contracts.

Based on the recommendations of the National Wage Council after its meeting on January 12, 1, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs proposed to adjust the minimum wage (LTT) by 2024% compared to the current level. , applicable from July 6, 1.

Specifically, the monthly minimum wage in 4 regions: region I is 4.960.000 VND/month, region II is 4.410.000 VND/month, region III is 3.860.000 VND/month, region IV is 3.450.000 VND/month month. The above salary level increases from 200.000 - 280.000 VND, about 2% higher than the minimum living standard of workers until the end of 2024; It is expected to basically ensure the minimum living standard by 2025.

Hearing the news, Tran Thi Hanh (Nam Dinh hometown), a worker at Khai Hoan Shoe Manufacturing Joint Stock Company (Binh Chanh district, Ho Chi Minh City) was both excited and worried. What worries workers like her is that every time wages increase, prices increase, especially for essential goods.

She and her husband have been workers for more than 10 years, with a total monthly income of about 12-13 million VND. All expenses depend on that. Ms. Hanh said the priority is to take care of her children's tuition and send money back home to take care of both parents. That's why her family's daily meals are extremely frugal. Only on special occasions do you dare to spend lavishly.

“Raising wages is to compensate for price fluctuations and ensure living standards for workers, but when wages increase by 1 dong and prices increase by 2 dong, if the state does not have a control policy, the lives of workers, which are already difficult, will become even more difficult. more difficult" - Ms. Hanh expressed

'Wages increase by 1 dong, prices increase by 2 dong, making it even more difficult for workers who already have difficulty' photo 2

Low income, workers' daily meals are extremely frugal, only on special occasions do they dare to splurge.

Similarly, with a worker's salary, Ms. Tran Thi Kim Tan (from Ben Tre), working at Gonze Co., Ltd. (Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone) every day has to manage her spending in the most economical way so as not to have to borrow money. . Ms. Tan worked for 10 years as a worker for a business in District 12, earning an income of 8-9 million VND/month, with overtime. However, in 2018, the company dissolved due to difficulties. She lost her job at the age of 33. She had to struggle to get a job at her current company and has worked here for 5 years now.

Ms. Tan's husband is a freelancer and his income is not much. Therefore, the family's main source of income is Ms. Tan's salary, but for the past 2 years, there has been no salary increase while electricity and food bills have increased compared to before, making the family even more deprived. She said that with 6 million VND, she has to pay nearly 3 million VND each month for housing, electricity, and water. The remaining amount is to take care of food, gas, and party expenses...

'Wages increase by 1 dong, prices increase by 2 dong, making it even more difficult for workers who already have difficulty' photo 3

Pork, sea fish, dried fish, eggs... are the dishes preferred by workers because of their affordable prices

To save money, she and her husband had to skip breakfast and did not buy anything for the house. For dinner, she does not dare to spend more than 2 VND on food/day except on days when the house runs out of rice, sugar, fish sauce, salt... and has to buy more.

“I also had to ask my parents in the countryside to send me some things like dried fish and dried shrimp. Everyone is happy to hear about the salary increase, we just hope prices don't escalate so we can suffer less" - she sighed.

According to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the above minimum wage increased from 200.000 VND - 280.000 VND (corresponding to an average rate of 6%) compared to the current minimum wage. The above-mentioned minimum wage adjustment is about 2% higher than the minimum living standard of workers until the end of 2024 to improve workers' lives; It is expected to basically ensure the minimum living standard in 2025 (pre-calculating a part of 2025's CPI into the minimum living standard so that workers can enjoy it right from mid-2024). This level of adjustment shares and harmonizes the interests of workers and businesses, paying attention to improving the lives of workers and ensuring the maintenance, recovery and development of production. enterprise's business. 100% of members of the National Wage Council agreed and recommended to the Government to adjust to this level.