Many workers pay insurance for 30 years but their pension is only 2.5-3 million VND.

During the National Assembly's group discussion on the socio-economic situation on the morning of May 25th, many National Assembly deputies raised the issue of wages.

Representative Nguyen Thien Nhan (Ho Chi Minh City) agrees with the government's plan to develop a roadmap for salary reform. However, he expressed concern that many workers who have worked long enough and paid sufficient social insurance contributions still do not receive a living wage upon retirement.

The delegate shared: "In Ho Chi Minh City, we met many workers who had worked for 30 years in businesses, paid full social insurance contributions, but when they retired they only received a pension of 2.5-3 million VND/month. How can they live like that?!"

A representative from Ho Chi Minh City proposed clearly defining the objectives of salary reform. With the country having been unified for 48 years and the economy having achieved many successes, with GDP per capita exceeding $4,000, Mr. Nhan argued that the principles of wage payment for workers must be redefined.

According to MP Nguyen Thien Nhan, it is necessary to determine a minimum wage that ensures a minimum standard of living. The principle of wage payment must ensure that those who work outside the home can also support at least one additional person, such as their children or parents.

According to the delegates, further research is needed to make wage policies more appropriate. (Illustration photo: Hoang Ha)

Representative Pham Khanh Phong Lan (Ho Chi Minh City) agreed with Representative Nguyen Thien Nhan's opinion. After many years, the salaries of many people are still insufficient to live on.

She argued that raising workers' wages shouldn't depend solely on the insurance agency's balancing act. While the current social insurance contribution rate in our country is low, increasing it isn't easy.

The increase in basic wages also has its drawbacks. Each time the basic wage is increased by a few hundred thousand dong, young people who need to save up to build a family receive a low increase due to their low coefficient; only those with high coefficients receive a significant increase. Not only retirees but even those in their working age, such as newly graduated doctors and pharmacists, do not have enough to live on.

Representative Pham Khanh Phong Lan suggested that further research is needed to make salary policies more appropriate.

Meanwhile, MP Le Thanh Van ( Ca Mau ) suggested that salary increases should not be based on increased budget, but rather on restructuring salaries through downsizing the workforce, as "the total amount remains unchanged, but the number of people receiving salaries decreases."

Reporting to the National Assembly on its opening day, May 22nd, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai stated that the Government will soon submit to the competent authorities a roadmap for salary reform and develop a plan for adjusting the regional minimum wage.

The government also aims to effectively implement policies for war veterans, social assistance, social security, poverty reduction, and improving people's living standards. The government will closely monitor the situation of workers who have lost their jobs or had their working hours reduced in order to provide appropriate support.

The government recently issued a decree increasing the basic salary from 1.49 to 1.8 million VND per month for officials, civil servants, public employees, and members of the armed forces, effective July 1st. The basic salary is used as the basis for calculating salaries in salary scales, allowances, living expenses, health insurance, social insurance, and pensions.

Minister of Home Affairs: We cannot defend officials who are afraid to act or who fear making mistakes.

Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra affirmed that it is impossible to defend or cover up the fear of making mistakes and the reluctance to act displayed by a segment of officials and civil servants.

The new wage policy is being finalized.

Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra said the ministry is researching and finalizing the specific contents of the new salary policy, ensuring it is consistent with the viewpoints, objectives, content, tasks, and solutions for reforming the salary policy.

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