Increasing regional minimum wages: Workers' hope

BAC NINH - According to the recommendation of the National Wage Council, the increase in regional minimum wage, which will be applied from January 1, 2026, will not only be used as a basis for salary payment, but also as a basis for businesses to pay social insurance, ensuring the pension level of employees in the future. Employees always expect this policy to have more income and stabilize their lives.

"Waiting" for salary increase to improve spending

After nearly 7 years working as a worker at Dinh Tram Industrial Park, Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong (born in 1999), a Tay ethnic (from the old Bac Kan province) and her husband working in the same company currently have an income of 8 million VND/person/month. She and her husband, like many workers with similar incomes, said they have to tighten their spending to make ends meet. Like Ms. Phuong and her husband, each month the rent, electricity, water, cleaning fees... cost more than 2 million VND. The two children are still young, the older child has just entered first grade and has to be sent back to the countryside for grandparents to look after; the second child is 3 years old and sent to a private school near the workplace, and every time they work overtime, the couple has to hire someone to look after them. Therefore, every month, the cost of caring for the two children is nearly ten million VND, not to mention milk, medicine when the child is sick, and food for the whole family. Ms. Phuong shared: "My husband and I encourage each other to try to save money, hoping that next year our salaries will increase, our spending will improve, and our family life will be less difficult."

Production line at Pearl Global Vietnam Co., Ltd. ( Bac Giang ward).

Ms. Hoang Thi Nga (born in 1990), a worker at a garment enterprise in Hiep Hoa commune, has an income of 7 million VND/month (including a basic salary of 4.4 million VND/month, overtime pay, seniority, diligence, gas, and meals). Her husband is a freelance worker, so his income is unstable, and all family activities mainly depend on her worker's salary. At the end of 2023, she went to the doctor and was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Her income decreased because she had to take time off work for treatment, and her health was not good enough to work overtime. "Now I just hope for a salary increase and to have some extra money for monthly expenses," Ms. Nga said.

The draft Decree regulating the regional minimum wage in 2026 proposes to increase the regional minimum wage from 250,000-350,000 VND/month, equivalent to an increase of 7.2% compared to the current minimum wage depending on the region.

The Labor Code (2019) stipulates minimum wages established by region and announced by the Government based on the recommendations of the National Wage Council. Since 2009, the regional minimum wage has been adjusted 16 times; the most recent increase was 6%, applied from July 1, 2024 to present. This is also the basis for businesses to determine the monthly social insurance contribution level, as well as the pension level of employees after retirement. However, many opinions say that, along with increasing wages, the State needs to regulate so that the cost of living does not increase accordingly, ensuring the meaning and effectiveness of the policy when it comes into life.

Close monitoring to ensure increased total income

According to the recommendation of the National Wage Council, the increase in regional minimum wages will be applied from January 1, 2026. The corresponding increase is from VND 250,000 - VND 350,000/month (equivalent to an average increase of 7.2%) compared to the current minimum wage depending on each region. Accordingly, the minimum wage in region I will increase from VND 4.96 million to VND 5.31 million/month; region II from VND 4.41 million to VND 4.73 million/month; region III from VND 3.86 million to VND 4.14 million/month; region IV from VND 3.45 million to VND 3.7 million/month. The hourly minimum wage will also be adjusted accordingly to the monthly salary. Currently, the Ministry of Home Affairs is soliciting comments on the draft Decree to submit to the Government for promulgation.

Although not yet effective, the information on salary increase has somewhat reassured workers with the expectation that 2026 will bring positive signals to their lives. At Thuan Thanh International Fashion Joint Stock Company (Xuan Lam Industrial Park, Song Lieu Ward), the working atmosphere seems to be more bustling and exciting. Mr. Hoang Van Hai, Chairman of the Company's Trade Union, an employee of the Accounting Department, said: "Although salaries have not increased immediately, most workers are excited, enthusiastic about their work, and have more motivation to stick with the business. Because in reality, salary increase is not only a matter of income but also the trust of workers." It is known that the Company is applying the minimum wage of region II of 4.41 million VND/person/month, along with allowances such as: Diligence, gasoline, children, meals, overtime pay, the total average monthly income of nearly 300 workers reaches 12 million VND/person.

Bac Ninh currently has about 28,400 operating enterprises, creating jobs for nearly 770,000 workers. Of which, the province's industrial parks have nearly 1,800 production and business enterprises, creating jobs for more than 550,000 people. In recent years, the average salary of workers has continuously increased by 6-10%; in 2024 alone, it will reach 8.4 million VND/person/month. Mr. Tran Van Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs, said: According to a current survey, many enterprises are paying a regional minimum wage higher than the regulations. However, increasing wages for workers will lead to increased production costs, leading to the risk that enterprises will find ways to cut allowances and bonuses. To ensure the rights of workers, as soon as the Government issues an implementation resolution and has a guiding document from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department will issue an official dispatch to localities. The Department also coordinated with the Provincial Industrial Park Management Board to require enterprises to proactively develop salary scales and tables; publicize detailed content of minimum wage adjustments, publicly notify employees; inspect, check, and apply sanctions if enterprises violate.

Discussing this issue, Mr. Le Duc Tho, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Labor Federation, said that the upcoming increase in regional minimum wage will be applied with the sharing and harmonization of interests between workers and businesses. With its role, the Provincial Labor Federation thoroughly grasps and directs enterprise-based trade unions to strengthen supervision and requires businesses not to cut allowances. The ultimate goal is to increase income for workers; to propagate so that workers understand, compare and self-monitor their wages to ensure compliance with regulations. Focus on improving the capacity of grassroots trade unions to negotiate wages higher than the minimum wage and other benefits for workers through collective labor agreements, as a legal basis to protect the legitimate rights and interests of union members.

Article and photos: Tuong Vi

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/tang-luong-toi-thieu-vung-niem-hy-vong-cua-nguoi-lao-dong-postid427082.bbg