Ho Chi Minh City: Proposal to adjust regional minimum wage in some communes and special zones

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Home Affairs has just proposed adjusting the minimum wage zoning for a number of localities, to ensure fairness and better suitability with socio-economic development conditions and people's living standards.

Mr. Nguyen Bao Cuong, Head of the Department of Labor, Wages and Social Insurance, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Home Affairs, answered the press on the afternoon of October 9.

On the afternoon of October 9, Mr. Nguyen Bao Cuong, Head of the Department of Labor, Wages and Social Insurance, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Home Affairs, said that the Department and related units have submitted to the City People's Committee for consideration and proposed the Ministry of Home Affairs to propose the Government to issue a decree on minimum wage in 2026. In this proposal, Ho Chi Minh City proposed to adjust the minimum wage zoning from region III to region II for the communes of Kim Long, Chau Duc, Ngai Giao, Nghia Thanh, Long Hai, Long Dien and Con Dao special zone. These are areas with rapid economic growth, high labor demand and actual living costs exceeding the current standard level of region III.

According to Mr. Nguyen Bao Cuong, this adjustment is considered a positive step, contributing to ensuring fairness in wage policy, while reflecting more realistically the living conditions of the people. Especially for island areas far from the mainland such as Con Dao, prices of goods, services and living expenses are often much higher than on the mainland. Applying a suitable minimum wage will support workers to cover their living expenses, while creating motivation for businesses to pay more attention to the quality of human resources.

In addition to the cost of living factor, Ho Chi Minh City also considers the socio -economic development characteristics of each region. The localities proposed for adjustment are all in the stage of attracting strong investment, with high labor demand, especially in the industrial, service, tourism and exploitation of sea and island potential. Adjusting the minimum wage will not only improve the lives of workers but also contribute to stabilizing labor relations, limiting the shortage of unskilled labor.

Public administrative areas operate continuously to meet the needs of people and businesses. Photo: Manh Linh/Tin Tuc Va Dan Toc Newspaper

A representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Home Affairs also said that this proposed adjustment is also consistent with the Government's policy of improving labor quality, ensuring social security, and at the same time creating a balance in development between regions.

The issuance of a new decree on minimum wage in 2026 is expected to remove many practical difficulties, while helping Ho Chi Minh City and related areas attract and retain workers, creating momentum for sustainable development.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/van-de-quan-tam/tp-ho-chi-minhkien-nghi-dieu-chinh-luong-toi-thieu-vung-tai-mot-so-xa-va-dac-khu-20251009193225742.htm