This proposal has received the attention and approval of many workers, especially workers working in industrial parks and export processing zones.
The reason given is that workers are facing many pressures at the same time, both the escalating cost of living and the decline in income due to unstable employment.
Since 2023, EVN has adjusted electricity prices up 4 times with an increase of 17%, while the regional minimum wage of workers has only increased once with an increase of 6%.
With the current price increase, many workers' families struggle to take care of every meal, not to mention saving or saving for the future.
Ms. Bui Thi Hoa - a worker renting a room near Thang Long Industrial Park, Hanoi said: "Last month, I only paid about 350,000 VND for electricity. But this June, after the electricity price adjustment, the bill increased to more than 500,000 VND. An additional hundred thousand dong is almost a day's work for me".
Ms. Hoa's husband is a motorbike taxi driver, if he drives hard from 6am to 8pm, his income ranges from 8-10 million VND. Every month when it rains a lot, I run less, my income drops by 2-3 million VND, and everyone has to rely on the workers' salary.
Not only Ms. Hoa, Ms. Luong Thi Hien - a worker with a small child, living with her family in a hot rented room, also had to struggle to pay nearly 900,000 VND for electricity due to regular use of air conditioners.
"We do not live in dormitories or social housing for workers to rent, but rent accommodation in residential areas, the electricity price according to business prices is very high. Workers' salary is about 8-9 million VND per month, if overtime, it is more than 1-2 million VND. This time the company has few jobs for workers, I only work office hours. The salary is just enough to cover basic living expenses" - Ms. Hien shared.
Deputy Director of YouMe Law Firm LLC Vu Thuy Trang said that the regional minimum wage is the basis for determining related regimes such as social insurance payment, basic salary payment, maternity support, illness, etc. The delay in adjustment or too little adjustment will lead to disadvantages for employees in many aspects.
According to National Assembly delegate Thai Thu Xuong, the current regional minimum wage has not really met the minimum living standard as in the spirit of the Labor Code. Therefore, the proposal to increase the regional minimum wage from next July is necessary and urgent.
If approved, this will be meaningful not only economically, but also to demonstrate concern and support for workers in the context of mounting difficulties.
Ms. Hien expressed her hope: "If the minimum wage is adjusted from July 2025, we will have the opportunity to increase the basic salary. Even though it is only a few hundred thousand a month, it helps workers reduce their burden. We feel shared when the voice of workers is presented by delegates to the National Assembly.
