Regional minimum wage expected to increase by 7.2% from January 1, 2026

The second meeting of the National Wage Council on the morning of July 11. Photo: Hong Chieu — The second meeting of the National Wage Council on the morning of July 11

In the second meeting on the morning of July 11, 13 out of 16 members of the National Wage Council voted in favor of the 7.2% increase, reaching an approval rate of more than 81%. The meeting took place earlier than the scheduled date in August.

According to the proposal, the minimum wage in region 1 will increase from 4.96 to 5.31 million VND/month; region 2 from 4.41 to 4.73 million VND; region 3 from 3.86 to 4.14 million VND; and region 4 from 3.45 to 3.7 million VND. The minimum hourly wage will also be converted accordingly from the monthly salary.

Region	From July 1, 2024 (million dong)	Expected January 1, 2026 (million dong)	Amount (thousand dong)
I	4.96	5.31	350
II	4.41	4.73	320
III	3.86	4.14	280
IV	3.45	3.7	250
Average	4.17	4.47	300

Chairman of the National Wage Council Nguyen Manh Khuong said that the 7.2% increase is appropriate to the current economic situation.

Meanwhile, the representative of the business sector - Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Hoang Quang Phong - commented that this is still a high level and "still worrying". However, due to the principle of high consensus, VCCI accepted this plan and said that businesses will need time to adjust production plans and retain skilled workers.

On the other hand, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor maintains its stance of proposing a 9.2% increase in the minimum wage to offset the cost of living and cope with the pressure of rising prices. Vice President of the General Confederation Ngo Duy Hieu emphasized that increasing wages is not a burden for businesses but a driving force for all parties to work together to develop.

This proposal is based on positive economic indicators, in which the GDP growth rate in the second quarter is estimated at 7.96% - the second highest level in the 2020-2025 period. However, the lives of workers are still affected by the continuous increase in prices of gasoline and essential goods.

A survey conducted by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor in April with more than 3,000 workers in 10 provinces and cities showed that 55% of workers only had enough to cover basic expenses; 26% had to spend frugally; 8% did not have enough to live on and had to work extra. Notably, 73% of single workers said their current salary was the main reason they were not married because they could not ensure a stable standard of living or provide for their children in the future.

According to the General Statistics Office, the average income in the second quarter reached 8.2 million VND, down from the first quarter due to the absence of allowances and Tet bonuses. Male workers have an average income of 9.3 million VND/month, and female workers have an average income of 7 million VND. In the first 6 months of the year, the average income increased by 10% compared to the same period in 2023, reaching 8.3 million VND.

The most recent adjustment of the regional minimum wage was on July 1, 2024, with an increase of 6%, which is considered to be in harmony between businesses and employees, basically ensuring a minimum standard of living in 2025. Currently, the minimum hourly wage ranges from 16,600 to 23,800 VND, depending on the region.

HA (according to VnE)

Source: https://baohaiphongplus.vn/luong-toi-thieu-vung-du-kien-tang-7-2-tu-1-1-2026-416122.html