This is considered an urgent solution to help workers maintain a basic standard of living and continue to stick with the enterprise in the context of increasingly difficult life.
Ms. Cao Tuong Vi, a worker who has worked for nearly 15 years at an seafood processing company in Soc Trang Industrial Park, shared: "My salary is about 9 million VND per month, but I have to take care of my two young children who are in school, take care of their elderly parents and take care of their daily activities. Recently, I have had to take a day off from work due to illness, and I have struggled to spend more. School fees and electricity and water bills have now increased significantly, I can't afford them". Ms. Vi expressed her hope to soon have the minimum wage adjusted so that workers have more to cover their living expenses.
Similarly, Mr. Ly Truong Giang, an aquaculture worker in My Xuyen district (Soc Trang province) said that after 9 years of working, the couple's total monthly income is about 14 million VND if they have all the orders. However, when output decreases, income is also significantly affected.
"The rental house is supported with half of the rent but still has to spend about 1 million VND per month. As for the money for food, send to their children's schools and parents, there is no shortage. Prices are constantly increasing, from electricity, water to vegetables. After deducting expenses, my wife and I only have about 2 - 3 million VND left. Every month when there are parties or people are sick, they are considered expiated, said Mr. Giang.
According to Mr. Giang, increasing salaries, even a few hundred thousand VND per month, will help workers somewhat reduce pressure and have more motivation to work.
Not only Ms. Vi or Mr. Giang, many workers in Soc Trang are struggling in a similar situation. Domestic electricity prices have been adjusted up since the beginning of 2025, causing a series of essential items such as food and necessities to increase as well.
Currently, the regional minimum wage in 2024 ranges from 3.45 million VND to 4.68 million VND/month, depending on the region. Meanwhile, according to many workers, the minimum living expenses for a family of 2 - 4 people have now exceeded the 8 - 10 million VND/month mark.
The large gap between income and actual needs has caused many workers to fall into the situation of "working enough to make a living, not having much" and are especially vulnerable to incidents such as illness, job loss, and sudden price increases.
Mr. Huynh Thanh Hoai - Chairman of the Trade Union of HS Vietnam Chemical Company Limited - Soc Trang Branch - said: "Many workers want to increase their regional minimum wage. With the current salary, it is very difficult for them to ensure a minimum standard of living, especially for families with dependents or children going to school.
According to Mr. Hoai, salary adjustment is not only to ensure the legitimate rights of workers but also a way to retain the labor force to stay with the enterprise for a long time, thereby contributing to stabilizing production and increasing productivity.
