Waiting for salary
In 2024, after the regional minimum wage increased, the salary of Mr. Bui Duc Binh (Phu Xuyen commune, Hanoi) will reach 4,410,000 VND/month - the regional minimum wage of region II. Combined with overtime pay, shift pay... Mr. Binh's total income is about 8,500,000 VND/month.
"My wife and I have a child in grade 2, the rent, food, spending, and children's education all depend on the worker salary of the couple. My wife works as a garment worker in Phu Xuyen commune, with a salary of less than 6 million VND/month. With a total income of less than 15 million VND/month for 3 people, my family lives very frugally, Mr. Binh shared.
Mr. Binh shared that with a small salary, his family has almost no savings, spending them all each month. If his children are sick or have any unusual jobs, he has to borrow money to cover them.
Regarding the information about increasing the regional minimum wage in 2026, Mr. Binh said that not only him but many colleagues and friends are looking forward to it every day...
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan (from Phu Tho) is working as a worker at a floating shirt garment company in Viet Hung ward (Hanoi), her husband works for hire at a nearby mechanical workshop. Ms. Lan and her husband are renting a room and waiting for their first child to be born at the end of 2025.
"Every month, the rent, electricity bill cost about 2,300,000 VND, food and other living expenses cost about 5,000,000 VND. Thus, my salary is almost gone. My husband's salary is based on products, he gets about 7,000,000 VND for many jobs a month, and only gets 5,000,000 VND for few jobs a month. I was worried because at the end of the year, all my expenses were based on my salary. If the cost of living and raising children is too expensive, we may return to our hometown, said Ms. Lan.
Ms. Le Thi Hoa is currently a garment worker in Dong Anh commune (Hanoi). Currently, Ms. Hoa has a salary of 6,000,000 VND/month; plus extra work, food support... total income is about 9,000,000 VND/month. Although the salary is 4,960,000 VND/month higher than the regional minimum wage, Ms. Hoa said that after each increase in regional minimum wage, the enterprise has made a move to increase wages for employees.
In reality, businesses pay us a salary higher than the regional minimum wage, but when this salary is the basis, businesses will pay more spending. The salary regime, overtime pay... the business where I work also uses this salary as a basis," said Ms. Hoa.
No matter how difficult it is, implement
Ms. Le Thi Thu Le - director of a garment accessories manufacturing company in Phuc Loi ward (Hanoi) - said that her company is in region I, the current regional minimum wage is 4,960,000 VND/month. However, with nearly 50 workers, her company currently applies a minimum wage of VND 5,700,000/month, not including overtime, food allowances and other benefits.
According to Ms. Le, her company is not affected too much by global trade fluctuations because it mainly supplies to domestic companies. Therefore, she always tries to increase the welfare for workers every year.
"In particular, with the regional minimum wage increases, we have always taken them seriously because we understand that wages are the source of livelihood for workers and their families, no matter how difficult it is, they must be implemented," said Ms. Le.
Talking to Lao Dong, Mr. Le Quang Trung - former Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Employment - said that increasing the minimum wage is extremely necessary.
According to Mr. Trung, the proposal to increase salaries needs to evaluate the indicators of how the increase ensures the lives of workers. Increasing the minimum wage also needs to take into account regional factors, if possible, calculate all labor groups so that we can ensure the standard of living for workers attached to the enterprise, creating conditions for workers to ensure their lives.
Many workers are living in cramped boarding houses with poor facilities and equipment, while they are the main force directly producing material wealth for society. If workers are not given a salary increase, while the prices of essential goods increase, it will make the lives of workers and laborers worried, affecting the production capacity of workers, Mr. Trung stated his opinion.
The regional minimum wage increase is expected to be applied from January 1, 2026:
Region 1, from VND 4,960,000 to VND 5,310,000, an increase of VND 350,000, equivalent to 7.1%.
Region 2, from VND 4,410,000 to VND 4,730,000, an increase of VND 320,000, equivalent to 7.3%.
Region 3 increased from VND 3,860,000 to VND 4,140,000, an increase of VND 280,000, equivalent to 7.3%.
Region 4, from VND 3,450,000 to VND 3,700,000, an increase of VND 250,000, equivalent to 7.2%.
