The Prime Minister on November 4 signed a decision to establish a central steering committee for reform of wage and social insurance policies and incentives towards people who rendered services to the nation.

Under Decision No. 2016/QD-TTg, the committee will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, who is aided by the Minister of Home Affairs as permanent deputy and the Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Finance Minister as deputies.

The committee is tasked to study, build and supervise the implementation of projects on the overhaul of salary policy towards public servants, armed forces and workers at businesses, and social insurance policy.
It will coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to mull over socio-economic policies regarding wage and social insurance policies and incentives towards people who made contributions to the revolution.

The decision came into effect on November 4 to replace Decision No. 858/QD-TTg dated July 9, 2007 by the Prime Minister.

On August 6, the National Wage Council made its debut, with the task of studying and making suggestions to the Government on the regional minimum wage for 2014 during the remaining months of this year.

The council is set up under Decision 1055/QD-TTg dated July 3, 2013, in line with provisions of the 2012 Labour Code and Government Decree 49/2013/ND-CP issued on May 14, 2013.

Civil servants members of the armed forces and socio-political organisations staff enjoyed an increase of 9.5 percent to their monthly minimum wage from July 1, 2013, which was the fifth minimum wage increase in the past five years.

According to a new government decree issued on July 1, the wage rose by 100.000 VND (4.076 USD) from the previous 1.050.000 VND (50 USD).-VNA