Proposal to increase hourly wages for employees
In the mountainous commune of Nam Chay, Lao Cai province, the Trade Union of Ham Duoi Hydropower Joint Stock Company has just implemented the program "Thank you to workers" to express gratitude to workers at the production site.
The joy was multiplied when Mr. Ha Thanh Hiem - Chairman of the Company's Trade Union announced - The National Wage Council agreed to propose increasing the regional minimum wage by 7.2% from January 1, 2026.
According to Mr. Ha Thanh Hien, the Trade Union of Ham Duoi Hydropower Joint Stock Company is one of the first grassroots trade unions under non-state enterprises established locally. Thanks to the effective cooperation between the trade union and the enterprise, the income of workers has been gradually improved, all welfare regimes are guaranteed.
"If the regional minimum wage is increased to 7.2%, we will have increased our income to make ends meet" - Mr. La Quang Huy, a union member of the company shared.
Similarly, the grassroots union of Thanh Binh Tea Joint Stock Company currently has 80 union members, many of whom are ethnic minorities and have difficult households. Through understanding the thoughts and aspirations of union members, the grassroots union has proposed to employers to increase the salary paid to employees from VND 28,000/hour to VND 31,000/hour to increase the average salary of workers to higher than the regional minimum wage.
Increase salaries, maintain benefits
"The proposed regional minimum wage increase of 7.2% from January 1, 2026 has met the expectations of union members, especially workers in disadvantaged mountainous areas. We will coordinate with the company's grassroots union to maintain benefits to improve the lives of workers as well as retain skilled workers" - Ms. Dinh Thi Hong Lan - Deputy Head of the Lao Cai Industrial Park Trade Union - shared.
According to Ms. Lan, the lives of workers in companies in industrial parks in Lao Cai have only stopped at the level of enough to eat, not high (average salary reaches 6-7 million VND/month).
Therefore, the grassroots union has coordinated with the enterprise to increase the treatment regime for workers such as: Support for shift meals, diligence bonuses, a couple working at the same company giving a bonus of 500,000 VND/month, and support for a boarding house of 500,000 VND/month.
Mr. Phan Huy Cuong - Vice Chairman and Head of the Lao Cai Industrial Park Trade Union - said that a 7.2% increase in regional minimum wage is necessary. For a locality with many difficulties like Lao Cai, this is even more meaningful, helping workers to ease difficulties, make efforts, and work enthusiastically.
Currently, the Lao Cai Provincial Federation of Labor is managing 578 grassroots unions and 12 grassroots unions with 39,188 union members. The salary increase is also a message to businesses to be more responsible towards employees in paying salaries, bonuses, and allowances" - Mr. Phan Huy Cuong expressed.
"We will accompany and coordinate with businesses to ensure the maintenance of welfare for employees. The consistent view is that after the official increase in the minimum wage, the income and benefits for employees will be higher" - Mr. Phan Huy Cuong emphasized.
