Minimum salary may rise in October
Source: 28-AUG-2008 Intellasia | Vietnamnet
Aug 28, 2008 - 7:00:00 AM The Vietnam Confederation of Labour is about to propose that the government raise the minimum salary of state employees as of October 2008, said Dang Quang Dieu, vice Head of the confederation's Economics-Policy Department.

Dieu said the state will have to spend a large amount of money more to pay for about 1.5 million government employees but it is a must because inflation is over 20% already. Moreover, there has never been such a large number of state employees quitting their jobs like at present.

Dieu said that newly-graduated bachelors and engineers who work for government agencies earn less than 1.5 million dong per month (US$90). Most of them come from other provinces so they have to hire houses. With 1.5 million dong in income, they can't feel assured to work for the government.

He said the government plans to pay an additional of 90,000 dong (US$5.5) to those who earn less than 1.5 million dong per month and this change may be applied as of October 2008. Yet, the rise seems to be unremarkable with inflation over 20%.

The Vietnam Confederation of Labour will propose that the government increase the minimum salary earlier, October 1 instead of January 1, 2009. According to regulations, the minimum salary is adjusted each January 1.