Voice of officials and civil servants: Go further, do more work, income remains the same

Officials and civil servants in many localities, especially at the grassroots level, have to work further and do more work, but their income is still… not better.

Delegate Tran Quoc Tuan ( Vinh Long province) - Photo: GIA HAN

That was the concern of National Assembly delegate Tran Quoc Tuan (Vinh Long) when speaking at the discussion session on socio- economics on the morning of October 29.

Officials and civil servants work further, do more work but their income is not better.

Delegate Tran Quoc Tuan shared: "After nearly 4 months, since officially implementing the two-level local government model, our administrative apparatus has become lighter in terms of focal points, but heavier in terms of work. Cadres and civil servants in many localities, especially at the grassroots level, have to work further, do more work, but their income is still not better."

Delegates cited data from the report summarizing voters' recommendations sent to the session. Voters in many localities such as Quang Tri, Binh Thuan , and Vinh Long reflected that after the merger of administrative units, many commune officials had to travel further, in some places from 10 to 15km to reach the new headquarters, while travel allowances and public service allowances have not been adjusted.

Voters in Nghe An, Lam Dong, and Dong Thap provinces asked the Government to have policies to support and encourage officials in the merged regions, because life is difficult, travel, housing, and living expenses increase, causing real income to decrease by 10-12% compared to before.

In addition, many localities such as Bac Kan, Can Tho and some provinces in the Mekong Delta also reflect the situation that grassroots cadres are having to shoulder more work due to streamlining the payroll, but their income has not improved, affecting their psychology, motivation and work efficiency.

Analyzing further, Mr. Tuan said that voters' reflections are not just numbers or technical recommendations, but the voice of grassroots civil servants and public employees - those who are shouldering the heaviest work of the state apparatus.

"If their lives are not guaranteed, the effectiveness of policy implementation will also be difficult to meet requirements," Mr. Tuan emphasized.

Many young civil servants have to rely on faith and instant noodles for their salaries in the last 10 days of the month.

The National Assembly discussed socio-economic issues in the hall - Photo: GIA HAN

According to delegate Tran Quoc Tuan, the Government's report and the verification reports of the National Assembly Committees, the average consumer price index (CPI) in the first 9 months of 2025 increased by about 3.27% over the same period last year.

Prices of many essential goods such as food, housing, electricity, water, tuition, gasoline and rent have all increased, putting great pressure on people's lives.

In particular, the actual income of cadres, civil servants and public employees has been significantly affected, as the basic salary has not been adjusted accordingly, while living and travel expenses have increased after the reorganization of the two-level local government apparatus.

Although not yet alarming, it has directly impacted the income of public servants, who shoulder the work of the people, which is shrinking day by day.

Delegates said that the basic salary of 2.34 million VND/month has been applied since July 1, 2024, and compared with the current cost of living, it is clearly no longer suitable.

On average, the minimum living expenses alone (food, transportation, electricity and water bills, children's tuition) in urban areas exceed 4.5-5 million VND/person/month.

"With a base salary of 2.34 million VND, even if multiplied by a higher coefficient, the actual income of many young civil servants is only enough... "from the beginning of the month to the 20th day", and the last 10 days of the month must "run on faith and instant noodles", Mr. Tuan shared.

Mr. Tuan once again cited the report of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front synthesizing voters' opinions, stating: "The lives of a number of cadres, civil servants, public employees, and workers in the state sector still face many difficulties, especially after the process of streamlining payrolls and merging localities, while prices and living costs increase."

According to him: "These words are not only a reflection, but also the heartfelt cry of millions of people who are still trying every day to maintain their faith and maintain their public service profession in the hope of serving the people better every day."

Concluding his thoughtful speech, the delegate from Vinh Long province shared: "We all agree that improving the lives of officials means improving the quality of the apparatus. Therefore, I earnestly recommend that the National Assembly and the Government consider adjusting the basic salary increase from January 1, 2026 - not waiting until mid-year like previous periods."

According to the delegate: "This is not just a story about salary, but a message from the people, a common heartbeat of the apparatus that needs to be energized. Only when officials have enough to live can they feel secure in serving; only when civil servants are not burdened with food, clothing, and money can they feel free to contribute."

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tieng-long-cua-can-bo-cong-chuc-di-xa-hon-lam-nhieu-viec-hon-thu-nhap-van-the-20251029093148082.htm#content-1