The Government issued Decree No. 293/2025/ND-CP stipulating the minimum wage for employees working under labor contracts, effective from January 1, 2026.
According to Decree 293/2025/ND-CP, the minimum monthly salary in 4 regions is stipulated as follows:
Region I: increased by 350,000 VND, from 4,960,000 VND/month to 5,310,000 VND/month;
Region II: increased by 320,000 VND, from 4,410,000 VND/month to 4,730,000 VND/month;
Region III: increase by 280,000 VND from 3,860,000 VND/month to 4,140,000 VND/month;
Region IV: increased by 250,000 VND from 3,450,000 VND/month to 3,700,000 VND/month.
The minimum hourly wage in region I increases from 23,800 VND/hour to 25,500 VND/hour, region II from 21,200 VND/hour to 22,700 VND/hour, region III from 18,600 VND/hour to 20,000 VND/hour, region IV from 16,600 VND/hour to 17,800 VND/hour.
Thus, the above minimum wage increases by 250,000 - 350,000 VND/month (equivalent to an average rate of 7.2%) compared to the current minimum wage stipulated in Decree 74/2024/ND-CP.
The increase in the minimum wage will help many other items be adjusted accordingly.
Unemployment insurance contribution rate
According to Decision 595/QD-BHXH, for employees who pay unemployment insurance according to the salary regime decided by the unit, the monthly salary for unemployment insurance payment is the salary used as the basis for compulsory social insurance payment as prescribed.
In case the monthly salary of the employee is 20 months higher than the regional minimum wage, the monthly salary for unemployment insurance contributions is equal to 20 months of regional minimum wage.
Maximum unemployment benefit level
The 2025 Law on Employment stipulates that the monthly unemployment benefit is equal to 60% of the average monthly salary for unemployment insurance contributions of the 6 most recent months of unemployment insurance contributions before the termination of labor contracts, employment contracts or termination of employment, but not exceeding 5 times the minimum monthly salary by region announced by the Government, applied in the last month of unemployment insurance contributions.
According to this regulation, the maximum unemployment benefit that employees receive monthly will not exceed 5 times the regional minimum wage.
Social insurance contribution rate
According to Article 5 of Decision 595/QD-BHXH, the monthly social insurance payment will be based on the monthly salary for social insurance payment.
In particular, this decision clearly states that the monthly salary for compulsory social insurance contributions is not lower than the regional minimum wage at the time of contribution for employees working in the most simple job or position under normal working conditions.
Minimum salary when transferring jobs
According to the Labor Code, employees who switch to work other than under a labor contract are paid according to the new job. If the salary of the new job is lower than the salary of the old job, the salary of the old job will be kept for 30 working days.
The salary according to the new job must be at least 85% of the salary of the old job but not lower than the minimum wage.
