Workers send to the National Assembly: Wages do not increase, access to social housing is out of reach

Delegate Nguyen Hoang Bao Tran ( Binh Duong ) - Photo: GIA HAN

On the morning of May 24, delegates discussed in the hall the draft resolution of the National Assembly on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for social housing development.

Wages do not increase but housing prices and consumer prices increase continuously

Before speaking, delegate Nguyen Hoang Bao Tran (Binh Duong) shared the workers' messages to the National Assembly.

Ms. Tran said: "I would like to speak on behalf of millions of low-income workers who are working day and night in large industrial parks and export processing zones across the country.

We, the workers, have a very simple mindset: to live, work, have a family and a small house to settle down, work with peace of mind, raise children and take care of our parents.

The female delegate continued: "Although it is as simple as that, it is our dream, because the harsh reality is that salaries do not increase but housing prices and consumer prices increase continuously, so just a normal wish will always remain just a dream.

But with an income of around 10 million VND per month, we have to worry about all kinds of difficulties from food, children's school fees, fees, rent...".

Ms. Tran was moved: "Access to a house or social housing is out of reach. The price of houses, even social housing, is still too far from the ability of workers, along with the criteria, processes, standards, and procedures set out are not for workers with income levels like ours. Many people registered but had to give up because they did not meet the requirements."

The delegate continued: "If this resolution is approved, it is practical and feasible, which is exactly what workers like us are waiting for. We do not need a luxury apartment with full amenities, but only want a decent place to live, rest, and play with our children after a hard day's work to rent, rent-purchase, or own within our means."

Ms. Tran shared: "Recommend that the National Assembly add practical mechanisms such as subsidies and price compensation from the state budget or the national housing fund, ensuring that rental prices correspond to workers' incomes, while ensuring publicity and transparency in the approval process so that workers have fair opportunities to access social housing.

Don't let social housing areas be abandoned and degraded, causing regret and longing for countless workers. Don't let the dream of having a home for workers forever remain a distant dream."

Despite efforts, current social housing prices are still high compared to workers' income.

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh - Photo: GIA HAN

Delegate Dinh Ngoc Minh (Ca Mau) highly appreciated the reduction of many basic administrative procedures in the draft resolution. He said that this will not affect state management, but will contribute to reducing costs for investors.

There are two types of social housing: rental and long-term housing, but according to delegate Minh, the trend of social development is that rental is more popular. For example, they have a house elsewhere but want to rent social housing near their workplace to reduce commuting time and labor costs.

With the current limited supply of social housing, the delegate proposed that people whose land is planned for commercial construction be allowed to invest in social housing for rent. "This will quickly supplement this source and meet the lack of social housing demand," according to the delegate's opinion.

Vice Chairman of the Committee for Culture and Society Ta Van Ha noted that although there have been many policies to develop social housing, demand is increasing while supply is limited and cannot meet demand.

On the other hand, according to Mr. Ha, despite many efforts, the current price of social housing is still high compared to workers' income.

"25 million/ ^m2 for people with income under 15 million VND/month, it is very difficult to buy social housing, very difficult. Or the rental price if at 6 million VND/month is still high compared to the subjects needing social housing, because they are mainly young people, low salary, unstable job", the deputy head of the Committee for Culture and Society analyzed.

Cannot regulate social housing floor price

Explaining, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh said that the Government has a project to "invest in building at least 1 million social housing apartments for low-income people and industrial park workers in the 2021-2030 period".

However, in reality, in the past 5 years, there have only been 679 projects nationwide, of which 108 projects with 73,000 units have been completed, equivalent to 15% of the target. In 2025 alone, the target was 100,000 units, but so far only 15,600 units have been completed, while 19,492 units have started construction, thus only reaching 44% of the target.

According to the minister, the cause of this situation is due to problems in institutions, policies, processes and procedures, so the Government has drafted a resolution to propose policy mechanisms to remove difficulties for investors participating in social housing.

He pointed out that according to current regulations, to assign investors to implement housing projects through bidding, just the procedures alone can take up to 300 days, making investors very frustrated. Therefore, the draft resolution has many simplified and integrated regulations to significantly reduce the time for procedures.

Responding to delegates' comments on social housing prices, in response to many suggestions that a floor price should be set, the minister affirmed that it is not possible to set a floor price, but that there will be guidelines for localities to implement.

For example, after the house model is designed, the local Department of Construction and Department of Finance will approve the estimated price. The price of social housing can only be 10% higher than the estimate. If a floor price is set, it will be difficult to implement because each place has different material prices.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-lao-dong-gui-quoc-hoi-luong-khong-tang-tiep-can-nha-o-xa-hoi-la-ngoai-tam-voi-20250524141908821.htm#content-1