Adding a few hundred thousand VND, reducing a monthly worry
As a garment worker in Ninh Binh, Mr. Dang Van Hau said that his workplace is in region III. If the proposal of the National Wage Council is approved, from January 1, 2027, his regional minimum wage will increase by about 310,000 VND/month.
In the place where I live, more than 300,000 VND is enough to pay for gasoline to go to work for a whole month, helping my family reduce a fixed monthly expense" - Mr. Hau shared.
As the main breadwinner in the family, the male worker said that every additional income is of practical significance because behind him is his wife and children who need care.
According to him, adjusting the minimum wage at this time is necessary so that workers' incomes gradually catch up with living expenses.
“We do not expect life to change immediately, but each time wages are adjusted, it is an additional motivation to feel secure in working. When the worry about essential monthly expenses is reduced, workers will also have more confidence to stick with the business for a long time” - Mr. Hau expressed.
Creating motivation to stick with businesses
Also expressing excitement about the proposal to increase the regional minimum wage, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Dung, a worker in group 2, garment workshop, Chien Thang Branch - Company 19.5 (An Ninh Industrial Park, Son Dong commune, Hanoi), said that she has been attached to the business for 20 years.
Currently, her family lives in Hoai Duc commune. The couple raises two children, the older one just finished the university entrance exam, and the younger one is in 7th grade.
Receiving information that the National Wage Council unanimously proposed to increase the regional minimum wage by 7.8% from January 1, 2027, Ms. Dung said she was very excited: "In fact, my company always pays higher than the regional minimum wage. However, when the minimum wage level is adjusted to increase, many income, welfare and policies for workers will also increase accordingly.
According to her, the business area belongs to region I. If the proposal is approved, the minimum wage in region I will increase by about 390,000 VND/month.
For workers, whatever extra money is added is precious. For my family of four, nearly 400,000 VND is enough to pay for water for a whole month or go to the market for about two days. The expenses seem small but combined each month is also a burden for the worker's family" - Ms. Dung said.
Workers satisfied with regional minimum wage increase of 7.8%
Ms. Cao Thi Chinh - a worker at Long Cuong Co., Ltd., Ho Chi Minh City - said that she is very happy to know that the regional minimum wage is proposed to increase by 7.8% and will be implemented from January 1, 2027. Ms. Chinh shared that in the past time, the prices of many essential daily life items have increased sharply, affecting the income and lives of workers (NLĐ). Therefore, it is inevitable that NLĐ expect to receive a salary increase. "The proposed increase of 7.8% is not equal to the base salary increase of 8%, but it meets the aspirations of our NLĐ" - Ms. Chinh said.
Similarly, Mr. Truong Thanh Tam, a worker at Printing Joint Stock Company No. 7, Ho Chi Minh City, also said that although the company has paid a minimum wage higher than regulations, he is also very happy to know that from January 1, 2027, the regional minimum wage is proposed to increase by 7.8%.
I think the proposed increase level is appropriate because businesses are also facing difficulties and challenges. Increasing wages at the above level not only helps workers have more immediate income but also benefits in the long term when the salary for social insurance contributions increases accordingly and the pension will increase further" - Mr. Tam said.
Mr. Cu Phat Nghiep - Chairman of the Trade Union of PouYuen Vietnam Co., Ltd. - also said that he followed information about the meeting of the National Wage Council very carefully. Initially, employer representatives only wanted to increase the minimum wage by about 5% or less. However, representatives of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor have repeatedly proposed higher increases. According to Mr. Nghiep, in the current period, businesses have many difficulties, but the lives of employees must be ensured so that they can feel secure in working and sticking with the business.
We workers and trade union officials are very grateful to the representative of the VGCL for having good negotiations to finalize the proposal to increase the regional minimum wage in 2027 to 7.8% and implement it from January 1, 2027. This is a reasonable increase and the time of increase is also earlier than usual" - Mr. Nghiep said.
