Vietnamplus

Salary increases this year at both multinationals and major local companies have in general been higher than inflation rates, a survey has found.

The Vietnam Association of Financial Investors (VAFI) has proposed that the Prime Minister privatise State-owned hospitals to reform the healthcare system and improve the quality of health care services.

People, particularly those working in informal sectors and housewives, are afraid of a possible surge in the prices of goods as soon as the basic salary for civil servants and public employees increases next month.

Vietnam has posted the highest regional increase in minimum wages over the last three years, more than Indonesia and China, but workers still struggle to make ends meet.

A survey by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) conducted in March and April on 2,500 workers revealed that labourers work overtime for the extra money, not because they want to.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has petitioned the municipal People’s Council to increase salary and allowances to raise incomes for kindergarten teachers in order to encourage them to continue working as the city has seen a year-by-year increase of kindergarten teachers quitting their jobs.

Minimum compensation for foreign workers in Singapore who unfortunately have accidents will be 60,000 SGD (nearly 43,000 USD), up from the previous 40,000 SGD (28,500 USD) from October 1, according to recent changes announced by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

The monthly basic salary for civil servants, public employees and those working in the armed forces will be raised to 1.3 million VND (57.16 USD) from July 1.

Some members of the National Assembly’s Finance and Budget Committee has suggested the government increase monthly basic salary by 7 percent to 1.3 million VND (59 USD) in 2017.

The monthly minimum wage will increase by an average of 7.3 percent next year.

As of July 15, 2016, State budget overspending stood at 105.6 trillion VND (4.75 billion USD).

The National Salary Council failed to decide on a regional minimum wage hike in 2017 at a meeting in the northern port city of Hai Phong on July 20.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) has asked the National Salary Council to increase regional minimum wages in 2017 by 10-11 percent from the current rates.

The monthly base salary for civil servants, public employees and those working in the armed forces has been officially stipulated to go up by 5 percent to 1.21 million VND (nearly 54 USD).

The country's unemployment rate slightly rose to 2.25 percent in the first quarter of this year as the local economy slowed down, according to the labor ministry's new data.

Commercial bank employees received an average monthly wage last year of 13-23 million VND (590-1,045 USD), up 1-4 million VND against 2014, thanks to banks’ better performance.

The recently approved plan on State administrative reform from 2016-2020 aims to improve institutions, and better personnel and administrative service quality.

The Lunar New Year (Tet) festival bonus is expected to increase 15.7 percent from last year, averaging 5.53 million VND (250 USD) per worker.

The highest monthly salary for mid-level and senior managers in Vietnam was 225 million VND (10,000 USD), up by 11 percent in 2015 in comparison with the previous year.

The Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) anticipates a turnover of 110 trillion VND (4.8 billion USD) this year.