Workers are excited about the upcoming increase in the regional minimum wage.

It can be said that increasing the regional minimum wage is an urgent requirement to ensure the livelihood of workers and create opportunities for them to have long-term commitment to businesses, agencies, and organizations. According to Decree No. 293/2025/ND-CP, from January 1, 2026, the minimum wage for workers under labor contracts will increase by 250,000-350,000 VND/month (corresponding to an average increase of 7.2%) compared to the regulations in Decree No. 74/2024/ND-CP.

How is the regional minimum wage applied?

On November 10, 2025, Decree No. 293/2025/ND-CP, which stipulates the minimum wage for employees working under labor contracts, was signed and promulgated. This Decree, effective from January 1, 2026, specifies the minimum monthly wage and minimum hourly wage applicable to employees working under labor contracts. The subjects to which Decree No. 293/2025/ND-CP applies include employees working under labor contracts as defined by the Labor Code; and employers as defined by the Labor Code.

According to Decree No. 293/2025/ND-CP, from January 1, 2026, the minimum wage for employees working under labor contracts will increase by 250,000-350,000 VND/month compared to the regulations in Decree No. 74/2024/ND-CP.

Accordingly, employers as defined by the Labor Code include: enterprises as defined by the Enterprise Law; agencies, organizations, cooperatives, households, and individuals who hire or employ workers for them under agreement; and other agencies, organizations, and individuals involved in implementing the minimum wage stipulated in this Decree.

According to the Decree, the monthly minimum wage in the four regions is stipulated as follows: Region I, increased by 350,000 VND, from 4,960,000 VND/month to 5,310,000 VND/month; Region II, increased by 320,000 VND, from 4,410,000 VND/month to 4,730,000 VND/month; Region III, increased by 280,000 VND, from 3,860 VND/month to 4,140,000 VND/month; Region IV: increased by 250,000 VND, from 3,450,000 VND/month to 3,700,000 VND/month.

The minimum hourly wage in Region I increased from 23,800 VND/hour to 25,500 VND/hour, Region II from 21,200 VND/hour to 22,700 VND/hour, Region III from 18,600 VND/hour to 20,000 VND/hour, and Region IV from 16,600 VND/hour to 17,800 VND/hour.

In Tay Ninh province, the list of areas where the minimum wage will apply from January 1, 2026 is as follows: Zone I includes Long An , Tan An, and Khanh Hau wards and An Ninh, Hiep Hoa, Hau Nghia, Hoa Khanh, Duc Lap, My Hanh, Duc Hoa, Thanh Loi, Binh Duc, Luong Hoa, Ben Luc, My Yen, Phuoc Ly, My Loc, Can Giuoc, Phuoc Vinh Tay, and Tan Tap communes.

Region II comprises the wards of Kiến Tường, Tân Ninh, Bình Minh, Ninh Thạnh, Long Hoa, Hòa Thành, Thanh Điền, Trảng Bàng, An Tịnh, Gò Dầu, Gia Lộc and the communes of Tuyên Thạnh, Bình Hiệp, Thủ Thừa, Mỹ An, Mỹ Thạnh, Tân Long, Long Cang, Rạch Kiến, Mỹ Lệ, Tân Lân, Cần Đước, Long Hựu, Hưng Thuận, Phước Chỉ, Thạnh Đức, Phước Thạnh, Truông Mít, Nhựt Tảo.

Region III includes the communes of Bình Thành, Thạnh Phước, Thạnh Hóa, Tân Tây, Mỹ Quý, Đông Thành, Đức Huệ, Vàm Cỏ, Tân Trụ, Thuận Mỹ, An Lục Long, Tầm Vu, Vĩnh Công, Lộc Ninh, Cầu Khởi, Dương Minh Châu, Tân Đông, Tân Châu, Tân Phú, Tân Hội, Tân Thành, Tân Hòa, Tân Lập, Tân Biên, Thạnh Bình, Trà Vong, Phước Vinh, Hòa Hội, Ninh Điền, Châu Thành, Hảo Đước, Long Chữ, Long Thuận, and Bến Cầu.

Region IV comprises the remaining communes and wards.

Excitement arises as the regional minimum wage is about to increase.

Having worked for 11 years at Pou Hung Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Ninh Thanh ward), Ms. Tran Thi Thu Hang said that her workplace is about 15km from her home, and she commutes to work by motorbike every day. Her husband, a primary school teacher, also works far from home. Upon hearing the news that the regional minimum wage is about to increase, Ms. Hang expressed her excitement.

“I’m very happy; having a little extra each month makes things less worrying. In recent months, due to the rain and floods, the prices of vegetables have increased too much, so I have to be very careful with my family’s expenses. Now, prices have calmed down a bit, but they are still high. Besides my basic monthly salary, I receive seniority allowance and overtime pay. I have two young children who attend school with a half-day program, so my husband and I only earn just enough to make ends meet,” Ms. Hang shared.

Workers hope that authorities will closely monitor and manage fluctuations in market prices, preventing situations where wages rise before prices increase.

Having worked for 7 years at Tan Huong Industrial Park in Dong Thap province (formerly Tien Giang province), Ms. Vo Nguyen Truc Ly (residing in Long An ward) earns approximately 7-8 million VND per month, and she does not take on any other jobs.

“With my income plus my husband’s income from his job as a driver, our family only has enough to cover monthly living expenses and save a little. However, in months with many parties or unexpected expenses, we don’t have any money left over. My husband and I have one son in first grade, and each month, the money spent on his schooling, food, and other activities is around 4-5 million VND. When our salaries improve, I’m happy because we have more money to take care of our son. Life may be difficult for my husband and me, but I hope my son’s future will be better,” added Ms. Ly.

With a family of four, Mr. Nguyen Trong Nhan has had to carefully budget for his current living expenses. Mr. Nhan said: “I have worked for seven years at a seafood import-export company located in Long An ward. Currently, depending on how much overtime and Sunday work I do, my total income fluctuates around 10 million VND per month. Like most other contract workers, I am very happy about the news that the regional minimum wage is about to increase. Besides improving income, I think the wage increase will also help motivate employees. When businesses effectively harmonize the interests of both employees and the company, they will attract and retain workers.”

The worry: "Wages haven't increased, but prices have already risen."

Under increasing spending pressure, many workers say that every time there is news of adjustments to the regional minimum wage, they feel anxious because prices often "get ahead" of them. The worry that wages won't increase fast enough to keep up with the cost of living makes life even more difficult for workers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Be, originally from Ca Mau, has been working in the Trang Bang Industrial Zone in Tay Ninh province for 15 years. She currently works for Hansung Vietnam Company. Her husband works at a company in the same industrial zone. The couple and their two children rent a small house near their workplace for 2 million VND per month. Both are factory workers, so their income is barely enough to cover daily living expenses and save a little for their children's future. Recently, upon hearing the news that the regional minimum wage will soon increase, Ms. Be couldn't hide her joy.

"I was so happy to hear about the salary increase! I calculated that I would get about 200,000 VND more per month. However, it's always the same: the salary hasn't gone up yet, but prices are already starting to rise. I hope prices stabilize so that workers can have a better life," shared Ms. Bé.

The core value of a wage increase is to improve the lives of workers.

Alongside the excitement, many workers expressed concern that wages haven't increased while prices have already "climbed." Having worked as an accountant for 10 years at a company specializing in wastewater treatment in Thu Thua commune, Ms. Huynh Thi Mai Huong receives a salary higher than the current regional minimum wage; however, she still has to constantly "tighten her spending."

“I earn about 10 million VND per month, but in these times, my family has to live quite frugally to cover expenses. I don't know if my company will increase wages for employees in 2026, but I'm quite worried that prices will rise before wages. I hope that the prices of electricity, gasoline, and essential consumer goods, especially food, will be controlled and stabilized by the government, to avoid a situation where wages increase but the lives of workers do not improve,” Ms. Huong confided.

It can be affirmed that the core value of wage increases is improving the lives of workers. Therefore, in the coming time, relevant authorities need to implement solutions to closely monitor and manage fluctuations in market prices, especially for essential goods and services in daily life. Maintaining the real value of wages will create momentum for development, and this is considered an important task alongside adjusting wage policies.

Khai Tuong - Hoai An

Source: https://baolongan.vn/nguoi-lao-dong-phan-khoi-vi-sap-duoc-tang-luong-toi-thieu-vung-a208214.html