The monthly minimum salary that took effect on January 1 could not coverworkers' living costs, representatives of trade unions in Ho Chi MinhCity have said.
Under the law, minimum monthly salaries in HCMCity were raised to 3.1 million VND (142 USD), 400,000 VND higher thanthe previous threshold.
At a recent workshop, Nguyen Tran PhuongTran, deputy chairwoman of the city's Labour Federation, said that, asof April 20, 3,904 enterprises in HCM City had increased their monthlywages.
She said that some companies had raised their wages evenhigher than the State's requirement, but many of them had stopped givingallowances for accommodation, petrol, and meals.
Tran Thi HongVan, chairwoman of the trade union at Nissei Electric Vietnam in LinhTrung Export Processing Zone, said total living expenses for a couplewith two children were 10 million VND (476 USD) each month.
"The average income of workers is more than 4 million VND (190 USD)," Van said.
To increase their income, they have been allowed to work more shifts.However, even with 148 hours per month, they earn only 6 million VND(185.7 USD), according to the chairwoman.
Nguyen VanKhue, chairman of the trade union at Domex Company in the Linh TrungExport Processing Zone, said that all of its workers had registered towork extra hours, but the company told them it did not have enoughorders.
He said the employees who wanted to workmore hours "stopped working" for a few hours to protest the decision bythe company. Some workers had quit, he said.
Khue said that many companies had not raised the salary grade of workers even after the new minimum wage was passed.
Representatives said the Vietnam General Confederation of Labourshould petition the Government to increase the wage by 18-20 percent.
Meanwhile, trade unions in foreign direct investment(FDI) enterprises in southern province of Dong Nai, for many years, havelaunched several measures to assist the employees.
In their role of representing and protecting the legal rights ofemployees, trade unions have negotiated with employers to increasesalaries and benefits in recent years.
Employees in many FDI businesses have been offering benefits, such as low-price breakfasts and accommodation.
Besides, unions have organised after-work activities and holiday tripsfor workers to help improve their quality of daily life.
For many years, the trade union of the Vietnam Precision IndustrialJoint Stock Company (VPIC) in Ho Nai Industrial Zone has defined itsmain task as negotiating for higher salaries and bonuses.
Trade unions say that due to their active participation, democracy inbusinesses has been considerably improved. Company leaders have alsoagreed to make profits public. They have also accepted a trade unionproposal to pay bonuses to workers if profits rise.
At present, VPIC workers get a bonus of up to 10 days' salary and areoffered a free meal worth 25,000 VND. The workers have a monthly incomeof 8 million VND (370 USD).
The company has alsooffered low-price accommodation to employees at rents of 700,000 VND (32USD) per month. The dormitories have a library, a playground and sportsarea.
A leader of the trade union said the union also acted as a bridge between employers and employees.
Meanwhile, at the Teakwang Vina Company in Bien Hoa Industrial Zone 2,the trade union opened a low-price supermarket for workers.
Dinh Sy Phu, chairman of the company's trade union, said thatprotecting the rights of workers had been carried out regularly.
Whenever the Government decided to adjust salaries, the union pushedfor higher levels. At present, Teakwang workers earn a monthly income of7 million VND (320 USD).
In the Month of Workerthis year, the company held a football tournament and set aside 5billion VND (230,000 USD) to buy gifts for its 26,000 employees.
Besides, the company has given financial assistance to build houses for poor employees.
According to trade union representatives in FDI businesses in Dong NaiProvince, most foreign investors do not understand much aboutVietnamese workers' way of thinking and working customs.
To ensure rights and benefits of employees and employers, the tradeunion must regularly explain the Government's policies as well asemployees' demands.-VNA
Under the law, minimum monthly salaries in HCMCity were raised to 3.1 million VND (142 USD), 400,000 VND higher thanthe previous threshold.
At a recent workshop, Nguyen Tran PhuongTran, deputy chairwoman of the city's Labour Federation, said that, asof April 20, 3,904 enterprises in HCM City had increased their monthlywages.
She said that some companies had raised their wages evenhigher than the State's requirement, but many of them had stopped givingallowances for accommodation, petrol, and meals.
Tran Thi HongVan, chairwoman of the trade union at Nissei Electric Vietnam in LinhTrung Export Processing Zone, said total living expenses for a couplewith two children were 10 million VND (476 USD) each month.
"The average income of workers is more than 4 million VND (190 USD)," Van said.
To increase their income, they have been allowed to work more shifts.However, even with 148 hours per month, they earn only 6 million VND(185.7 USD), according to the chairwoman.
Nguyen VanKhue, chairman of the trade union at Domex Company in the Linh TrungExport Processing Zone, said that all of its workers had registered towork extra hours, but the company told them it did not have enoughorders.
He said the employees who wanted to workmore hours "stopped working" for a few hours to protest the decision bythe company. Some workers had quit, he said.
Khue said that many companies had not raised the salary grade of workers even after the new minimum wage was passed.
Representatives said the Vietnam General Confederation of Labourshould petition the Government to increase the wage by 18-20 percent.
Meanwhile, trade unions in foreign direct investment(FDI) enterprises in southern province of Dong Nai, for many years, havelaunched several measures to assist the employees.
In their role of representing and protecting the legal rights ofemployees, trade unions have negotiated with employers to increasesalaries and benefits in recent years.
Employees in many FDI businesses have been offering benefits, such as low-price breakfasts and accommodation.
Besides, unions have organised after-work activities and holiday tripsfor workers to help improve their quality of daily life.
For many years, the trade union of the Vietnam Precision IndustrialJoint Stock Company (VPIC) in Ho Nai Industrial Zone has defined itsmain task as negotiating for higher salaries and bonuses.
Trade unions say that due to their active participation, democracy inbusinesses has been considerably improved. Company leaders have alsoagreed to make profits public. They have also accepted a trade unionproposal to pay bonuses to workers if profits rise.
At present, VPIC workers get a bonus of up to 10 days' salary and areoffered a free meal worth 25,000 VND. The workers have a monthly incomeof 8 million VND (370 USD).
The company has alsooffered low-price accommodation to employees at rents of 700,000 VND (32USD) per month. The dormitories have a library, a playground and sportsarea.
A leader of the trade union said the union also acted as a bridge between employers and employees.
Meanwhile, at the Teakwang Vina Company in Bien Hoa Industrial Zone 2,the trade union opened a low-price supermarket for workers.
Dinh Sy Phu, chairman of the company's trade union, said thatprotecting the rights of workers had been carried out regularly.
Whenever the Government decided to adjust salaries, the union pushedfor higher levels. At present, Teakwang workers earn a monthly income of7 million VND (320 USD).
In the Month of Workerthis year, the company held a football tournament and set aside 5billion VND (230,000 USD) to buy gifts for its 26,000 employees.
Besides, the company has given financial assistance to build houses for poor employees.
According to trade union representatives in FDI businesses in Dong NaiProvince, most foreign investors do not understand much aboutVietnamese workers' way of thinking and working customs.
To ensure rights and benefits of employees and employers, the tradeunion must regularly explain the Government's policies as well asemployees' demands.-VNA
