Agree with the plan to increase the minimum wage by 9.2%
Talking to reporters, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang, a worker at Viet Thang Company (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City), shared that recently, after the increase in electricity prices, many consumer and household items have also increased in price.
According to her records, rice increased by 2,000 VND/kg; pork belly increased from 120,000 VND/kg to about 150,000 VND - 160,000 VND/kg; pig's ribs also increased by 10,000 VND - 20,000 VND/kg to about 180,000 VND - 190,000 VND/kg; cooking oil also increased by 2,000 VND/ped.
Ms. Hang added that the average income of workers in the textile and footwear industry in Ho Chi Minh City is currently only about 9-10 million VND/month, including overtime pay, so workers tend to spend more sparingly to ensure their lives when prices increase.
In fact, many workers have returned to their hometowns to work because the cost of living in Ho Chi Minh City has increased, making their lives increasingly difficult. Therefore, most workers are in agreement with the proposal to increase the regional minimum wage by 9.2% (from 320,000 to 450,000 VND/month) proposed by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.
Similarly, Ms. Vo Thi Ngoc My, an employee living on a rental house on Nam Hoa Street, Phuoc Long A Ward, Thu Duc City, informed that recently, many essential goods for living have increased in price, so her family has to take advantage of them to avoid disruption.
Ms. My expressed: " Prices have increased a lot and often, but workers' salaries have only increased once a year and are mostly not commensurate with the price increase. The State needs to soon increase the regional minimum wage as proposed by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to reduce disadvantages for workers".
Increasing regional minimum wage every year is greater than inflation rate
Mr. Cu Phat Nghiep - Chairman of the Trade Union of PouYuen Vietnam Company - said that at PouYuen Company, in addition to increasing the regional minimum wage according to State regulations every year, the company also increases salaries for employees by 5%/year. Many traders also reported to the Union about the increase in prices of goods, especially after the recent increase in electricity prices by 4.8%.
"Many items have recently increased in price, greatly affecting the lives of workers. Therefore, the proposal of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to soon increase the regional minimum wage by 9.2% is very approved and supported by workers" - Mr. Nghiep said.
According to Mr. Luu Kim Hong, Chairman of the Trade Union of Nidec Vietnam Company, the most recent regional minimum wage increase was in July 2024.
Statistics from January 2020 to June 30, 2024 are 4.5 years, the minimum wage in region 1 only increased by 540,000 VND, from 4,420,000 VND to 4,960,000 VND. With such an increase, it is not enough to meet the minimum needs of employees, not enough for employees to support themselves and regenerate their labor force, not to mention that they still need money to raise children and accumulate when necessary.
Mr. Hong commented that the current trend of workers getting married late, having few children or hesitating to have children is the reason that workers' salaries and income are low, making it difficult to fully meet the needs of families and children. Therefore, it is necessary to soon increase the regional minimum wage for employees.
"The State needs to establish an annual regional minimum wage mechanism that automatically increases the inflation rate slightly so that employees can ensure their lives, their families and have some savings when they are sick, ill or have something to spend" - Mr. Hong suggested.
Mr. Quach Man Nghia - Chairman of the Trade Union of Always Vietnam Company - said that the State should prioritize increasing the regional minimum wage according to option 1 proposed by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.
The 9.2% increase will be in line with the expectations of all workers, contributing to helping workers to compensate for the increasing cost of living, especially in large cities like Ho Chi Minh City and improve the lives of workers, said Mr. Nghia.
