Mr. Nguyen Van T (character's name has been changed), currently working at an agency under the Party and mass organizations in Bac Ninh), shared that although he has been working for more than 10 years and has become a civil servant for 3 years, his current income is still quite modest compared to the actual needs of life.
Mr. T said that his current salary according to the coefficient is 3.33, plus a special allowance of 55% for Party and mass organizations, with a total income of only about 12 million VND/month. After deducting the social insurance payment, the actual amount received is about 11 million VND/month.
"My wife works in the banking sector, and her income is higher than mine, so her family life is easier. If my wife were a civil servant like me, my income would probably be the same or even lower," said Mr. T.
According to Mr. T, if both husband and wife are young civil servants and public employees, their total income is only about 20 million VND/month, to cover their family life and raise two young children is extremely difficult, almost unable to save anything, sometimes not enough to spend.
According to his calculations, the daily food expenses of the family of 4 alone account for nearly half of his income. "The average daily food cost for the whole family is about 200,000 VND, which is more than 6 million VND per month. Not to mention electricity bills (2 million VND/month), water bills (500,000 VND/month), gasoline (600,000 VND/month), extra classes for children (5 million VND/2 children), courtesy... Mr. T said.
According to Mr. T, for young civil servants and public employees, the starting income of about 10-12 million VND/month is reasonable, enough for them to work with peace of mind and contribute, and will then gradually increase. Currently, according to his calculations, with the basic salary of VND 2,340,000, the salary of young civil servants of the Party and mass organizations is about VND 7.7 million/month.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Le Dinh Quang - an expert on labor - wages - said that the current starting salary of civil servants and public employees, especially young people, is still very low, if only the salary coefficient is used, it will not meet the minimum living standard, so that they can ensure their lives.
According to the expert, the salary of civil servants and public employees has many factors, including dependence on the budget's ability to pay as well as the staff, but basically, salary reform must increase salaries for cadres, civil servants and public employees, especially young cadres and public employees in the spirit of Resolution 28, so that the salary of civil servants and public employees must be equal to the average salary of the current minimum wage.
"Currently, for newly admitted civil servants and public employees, the salary coefficient is still very low, so there are many difficulties. If the salary increase is implemented, it will help workers who are cadres, civil servants, and public employees feel secure, wholeheartedly, and wholeheartedly in their work, avoiding negative phenomena, as well as improving work efficiency, avoiding the "gray bleeding" situation that has long been mentioned," said Mr. Le Dinh Quang.
Mr. Le Dinh Quang added that in the current context, when reorganizing the organization and apparatus, the team of cadres, civil servants and public employees has been significantly reduced; along with that, gradually, salaries will be paid according to job positions.
Therefore, I think raising salaries and incomes for cadres, civil servants, and public employees, especially young cadres, civil servants, and public employees, is completely conditional, completely appropriate, and should be implemented, Mr. Quang expressed.
Discussing the opinion of National Assembly deputies on the need to set an average monthly income of civil servants and public employees of VND15 million/month or more, Mr. Quang said that with current demand, this income level is not high, but salary adjustment needs a roadmap to ensure the budget.
