The National Wage Council (NWC) on August 6 adopted a proposal on a 15.1 percent rise in region-based monthly minimum wage in 2015, which will be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

Under the proposal, the new monthly minimum wage levels will be applied in four different regions in the country as follows – Region I: 3.1 million VND (147 USD), Region II: 2.75 million VND (131 USD), Region III: 2.42 million VND (115.2 USD), and Region IV: 2.2 million VND (104.7 USD).

Region I covers urban Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City while Region II includes rural Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City along with urban Can Tho, Da Nang and Hai Phong. Region III covers Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hai Duong and Vinh Phuc provinces, and Region IV, the remaining localities.

According to Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Minh Huan, Chairman of the NWC, during their meeting, representatives of employers and employees agreed to increase the monthly minimum salary for workers and promptly complete necessary procedures to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval this October.

The new wage levels, if approved, are expected to be applied on January 1, 2015, he said.

Huan stated that next year, his council will study the minimum wage based on additional criteria such as consumer price index, workers’ living standards, salary differences between unofficial and official areas and between small- and large-sized enterprises.

Together with minimum wage levels, the council will propose the establishment of a labour productivity research council which aims to ensure workers’ living standards and competition among businesses, he said.

After the Government issues a decree on the 2015 minimum wage increase, the NWC will work with several enterprises to monitor the application of the new salary and its impacts, he added.-VNA