Increasing basic salary and the problem of trust

Increase basic salary for civil servants and public employees to retain talent. (Source: VGP)

“With a base salary of 2.34 million VND, young civil servants can only survive from the beginning of the month until the 20th, and for the last 10 days of the month they have to rely on faith and instant noodles.” The frank statement of delegate Tran Quoc Tuan at the socio -economic discussion session on the morning of October 29 is not only the voice of an individual, but also the feelings of millions of civil servants and public employees when their income is not commensurate with their efforts and the pressure of work is heavy.

Not burdened with "bread and butter"

For many years, the story of increasing the basic salary has been mentioned over and over again in every National Assembly session, in budget news, and in the daily conversations of civil servants. The current basic salary of 2.34 million VND, although adjusted through many reforms, still cannot keep up with the minimum living standards of workers in the state sector. As prices escalate every day, the already meager salary becomes even more fragile, forcing civil servants and public employees to live a "hand-to-mouth" lifestyle. In fact, many people have to take on extra jobs to increase their income.

In fact, with an income of about 7-8 million VND/month for a young civil servant after deducting insurance, housing, electricity and water bills, living expenses and childcare, they have almost no "room" left for saving or investing in themselves. The prolonged shortage not only creates material pressure, but also silently erodes the enthusiasm for dedication.

Delegate Tran Quoc Tuan said simply but profoundly: "Only when officials have enough to live can they feel secure in their service. Only when civil servants are not burdened with the burden of earning a living can they feel at ease in their dedication."

It is an inescapable truth. When wages are not enough to live on, people are forced to make ends meet. And in the public service environment – where integrity, transparency and dedication are highly valued, having to “make ends meet” can easily become a potential threat to the integrity of the system.

The Government has made many efforts to reform the salary policy from the 2018 Salary Reform Project to adjusting the basic salary over the years. However, in the context of limited budget and large regular expenditure, salary increase is always a difficult problem. Each time it is discussed, it is necessary to consider the desire to improve the lives of civil servants and the requirements of stabilizing the macro economy and controlling inflation.

But it is necessary to clearly recognize that: Salary increase is not simply an increase in expenditure, but a strategic investment. It is an investment in people - the core factor that determines the quality of national governance. A high-quality civil service cannot be operated by people who always have to hesitate between responsibility and the worry of "bread and butter". If we only see salary increase as a budget burden, we will ignore long-term values such as higher productivity, stronger dedication, and most importantly, strengthened transparency and integrity in public service.

In many countries, civil servant salaries are considered the most effective barrier against corruption. When the income is sufficient and worthy, civil servants can wholeheartedly serve society without being tempted by personal interests. In the process of building a modern, professional, honest and serving administration, Vietnam needs to consider improving civil servant income as part of institutional reform, not just a move to support life.

A sobering reality is that in recent years, many young civil servants and public employees, after a few years of work, have chosen to leave the public sector to seek new opportunities in private enterprises or foreign corporations. They leave not because they lack passion for their jobs, but because they cannot sustain their lives with salaries that are too low compared to the increasing cost of living.

When the private sector is willing to pay double or triple the salary with better benefits, the public sector will gradually lose its attraction to talent. And when talented, capable, and dedicated people leave one by one, the apparatus will gradually lack creativity and innovation.

Therefore, slow increase in basic salary not only slows down the improvement of living standards, but also threatens the quality of civil servants in the long term. A reasonable salary policy will help retain talented people, create motivation and strengthen the society's trust in the state apparatus - where public servants can live by their own labor.

When civil servants feel secure living on a fair salary, they will serve wholeheartedly. (Illustration photo: VGP)

Wage increases go hand in hand with price controls and productivity gains

However, if the salary increase is not carefully calculated, it can lead to an inflationary spiral when the price increase does not improve real income, the salary has not increased but the price has increased. Therefore, in parallel with adjusting the basic salary, it is necessary to simultaneously implement solutions to control inflation, especially in essential goods such as food, gasoline, electricity, water, etc.

In addition, salary increases must go hand in hand with increased labor productivity and efficiency in public spending. A decent salary must be accompanied by corresponding productivity. When civil servants are paid enough to live on and are fairly evaluated according to their abilities, the system can operate more transparently and effectively. Salary reform is therefore about resetting the measure of fairness between responsibility and treatment.

In fact, behind each basic salary figure are millions of silent lives – teachers in mountainous areas still teaching in the rain and forests; doctors and nurses still have to be on duty in emergency rooms day and night... They are the "backbone" of the administrative system, the link between the State and the people. Therefore, the increase in basic salary from January 1, 2026 not only has policy significance, but also a humane message: The State understands, shares and appreciates the efforts of those who are shouldering public responsibilities.

If there is not enough to live on, the devotion of cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers will gradually dry up. Therefore, salary increases are not just a matter of finance, but a matter of trust and fairness. When civil servants feel secure living on a fair salary, they will wholeheartedly serve the people, not "half-heartedly" working multiple jobs to make ends meet.

Thus, increasing salaries to retain talent and maintain trust is an urgent policy requirement. Because it is impossible to build a powerful nation if civil servants, public employees, and workers always have to live on "trust and instant noodles" at the end of the month, always burdened with the burden of "bread and butter" on their shoulders.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tang-luong-co-so-va-bai-toan-niem-tin-332920.html