Newly graduated students receive salaries based on performance: What does the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs say about this?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Viet Huong - Deputy Director General of the General Department of Vocational Education - Photo: HA QUAN

In response to World Youth Skills Day (July 15), the General Department of Vocational Education, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, has issued a document requesting vocational education institutions and skills assessment organizations to pay attention to a number of activities.

This includes coordinating with businesses to recognize, recruit, employ, and pay graduates based on their skills and professional competence.

Pay graduates based on job requirements.

Speaking with Tuoi Tre Online , Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Viet Huong - Deputy Director General of the General Department of Vocational Education (Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs) - said that paying wages and salaries to graduating students based on their skills and professional competence has been included in directives and guidelines, and prioritized in the policies and directives of the Government as well as the directives of the Party Central Committee.

However, she analyzed that while the right to determine salaries belongs to the autonomy of businesses, with proper guidance, communication, and increased awareness of the role of skills, businesses will have more appropriate policies.

"That also motivates schools to attract students and supply highly skilled workers to the labor market," she said.

Students interning at an automobile workshop at Ha Nam Vocational College - Photo: HA QUAN

The government needs policies to encourage businesses to pay higher wages.

According to Ms. Huong, authorities are proposing that the government implement a policy to encourage businesses to pay graduates salaries based on their position, job, and qualifications, similar to what some large corporations are already doing.

Through discussions with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), she learned that businesses are paying attention to salary levels based on job positions and individual skill sets, considering it a solution for retaining talent.

Dr. Pham Xuan Khanh, principal of Hanoi High-Tech College, expressed the view that the government should encourage businesses to pay better salaries to newly graduated students. For example, policies such as tax reductions could be implemented, but these should be pilot programs before widespread application.

Mr. Khanh said that the role of the school is very important right from the time the students are doing their internships.

"For example, students majoring in automotive engineering will do internships related to automobiles, while those majoring in electrical engineering will do internships in electrical engineering, and these internships will be linked to the labor needs of businesses."

"The school will find businesses that have needs and are in the right field for students to intern and participate in business activities such as design and production, bringing profits to the businesses," he said.

The 2014 Vocational Education Law clearly states that after graduation, learners are entitled to a salary based on their job position, competence, and work performance, which must not be lower than the basic salary or the regional minimum wage.

Currently, the basic salary is 2.34 million VND/month, while the lowest regional minimum wage (Region 4) is 3.45 million VND/month.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/sinh-vien-moi-tot-nghiep-nhan-luong-theo-nang-luc-bo-ld-tb-xh-noi-gi-20240715171153185.htm