You kids have more boxes of fresh milk to drink
I went to knock on the door of the rented room when Mr. Nguyen Huu Mao was still sleeping soundly with a dazed look after a hard night shift.
Leaving his hometown of Ha Tinh to work as a worker in Hanoi from May 2008, Mr. Mao (39 years old), currently renting a room in alley 10, Hau Duong village, Thien Loc commune (Hanoi) is a worker in the furnace department, ToTo Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Thang Long Industrial Park), has witnessed 16 regional minimum wage adjustments.
When he learned that the National Wage Council had just finalized the proposal to increase the regional minimum wage by 7.8% to submit to the Government for consideration and decision, applied from January 1, 2027, Mr. Mao was extremely excited.
If the regional minimum wage increases by 7.8%, the area I am working in is Region 1, which means that the salary will be adjusted to increase by a maximum of 390,000 VND/month. This is a very meaningful income for workers, especially those who have families or are raising young children like my wife and I" - Mr. Mao said.
Mr. Mao and his wife have 3 children. Previously, he and his wife worked as workers in Hanoi, but 4 years ago, his wife had to bring 3 young children back to their hometown of Ha Tinh to live to facilitate their studies, because the salary of the couple could not afford it when the tuition and living expenses were too expensive in the Capital.
With an additional income of nearly 400,000 VND per month from the regional minimum wage increase, I can send more money to my wife to buy about 10 packs of fresh milk or a carton of fresh milk for my children; or this amount of money I can pour gasoline to go to work for 1.5 months. Therefore, I really hope my salary will be increased from January 1, 2027" - Mr. Mao expressed.
There is a worry that workers like Mr. Mao all have in their hearts, which is that every time wages are starting to increase, essential goods also simultaneously increase in price.
According to Mr. Mao, if wages increase and items such as food, gasoline, and gas also increase in price, the meaning of wage increases will be greatly reduced.
Therefore, we really hope that the Government and all levels of government will have measures to maintain stability or increase these essential goods to a moderate level, so that wage increases are truly meaningful for workers" - Mr. Mao proposed.
Lucky to be supported by the state and trade union
Also from Ha Tinh coming to Hanoi to work as workers for 17 years, Ms. Duong Thi Tuyen (currently a worker at Canon Vietnam Company) has a total income of about 10 million VND/month; and her husband is a freelancer.
The couple's income is not high, but they are lucky to rent a social housing in Bau village, Thien Loc commune, with financial support from the state, so they only have to pay 480,000 VND/month, plus electricity and water bills, expenses of about 1.2 million VND/month; tuition fees for their child who is in 1st grade also account for about 3 million VND/month.
With the income of the couple not high, while living expenses are expensive as they are now, and raising young children, Ms. Tuyen said that the couple is also quite struggling and has to be frugal in spending.
Therefore, if her salary is increased by 390,000 VND/month, this amount is almost enough for her to buy a carton of fresh milk for her child, which is very encouraging in such a difficult context.
As workers far from home, with the help of the state, trade unions as well as businesses when caring for and supporting housing, proposing salary increases to take care of life, helping workers stabilize their lives, we feel very great and feel secure in working long-term at the place we are working" - Ms. Tuyen shared.
However, like Mr. Mao, Ms. Tuyen believes that every time wages or monthly allowances increase, it seems that food and prices of many essential goods tend to increase.
I really hope that every time wages are adjusted to increase, the state also needs to have policies so that the prices of essential goods do not increase sharply, so that workers are less burdened" - Ms. Tuyen said.
Previously, on July 16, at the 2nd Meeting, with high consensus from all parties, the National Wage Council unanimously proposed a regional minimum wage increase of 7.8% to submit to the Government for consideration and decision on application from January 1, 2027. The average increase is 7.8%, equivalent to an increase of 340,000-390,000 VND depending on the region.
The minimum wage in region I increased from 5,310,000 VND to 5,700,000 VND (an increase of 390,000 VND); region II increased from 4,730,000 VND to 5,080,000 VND (an increase of 350,000 VND); region III increased from 4,140,000 VND to 4,450,000 VND (an increase of 310,000 VND); region IV increased from 3,700,000 VND to 4,040,000 VND (an increase of 340,000 VND).
