Trade union proposes to increase regional minimum wage before January 1, 2026

The first meeting of the Council discussed the adjustment of the minimum wage in 2026.

Information shared by Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor , before the first meeting of the National Wage Council on the morning of June 26. He cited the principle that the Council meeting must be held earlier, but sharing the situation of enterprises, creating a common momentum for the country's development, the Union agreed to postpone the negotiation time.

"The timing and specific increase will continue to be negotiated through today's meeting to harmonize the interests of workers and businesses. In addition, it will also involve legal procedures such as issuing decrees as well as being consistent with the general social context," he said.

The regional minimum wage was most recently adjusted on July 1, 2024, with an increase rate of 6% - a level that is considered "harmonious between businesses and workers, basically ensuring a minimum standard of living in 2025".

The current minimum monthly wage in region 1 is 4.96 million VND; in region 2 it is 4.41; in region 3 it is 3.86 and in region 4 it is 3.45 million VND. The minimum hourly wage in region 1 is 23,800 VND; in region 2 it is 21,200; in region 3 it is 18,600; in region 4 it is 16,600 VND. Hourly wages are converted from weekly or daily wages divided by the number of normal working hours in a week or day; or piecework wages or contract wages divided by the number of working hours to produce the product.

For over 10 years, the minimum wage has been adjusted on January 1st every year. However, due to the impact of the Covid pandemic and the fluctuations in the world situation, the two most recent minimum wage adjustments were both on July 1st.

The National Wage Council, established by the Prime Minister , consists of 17 members, with the function of advising the Government on regional minimum wages including monthly and hourly wages; wage policies for workers; surveying and evaluating the wage situation, minimum living standards of workers, production and business of enterprises; employment, unemployment; reviewing the minimum living standards of workers and families; dividing the areas applying the minimum wage as a basis for increasing wages in each period. Every year, this agency organizes negotiations to recommend to the Government plans to adjust regional minimum wages, including monthly and hourly rates.

In the first quarter of this year, the economic growth rate is estimated at 6.93%, the highest compared to the years in the period 2020 - 2025. The results of the survey on business trends of enterprises in the manufacturing and processing industry - the driving force of the economy, show that over 24.1% said the production and business situation was better than in the last quarter of last year. More than 47% of businesses considered it stable, the rest assessed it as difficult. In particular, the consumer price index (CPI) in the first 3 months of the year increased by 3.22% compared to the same period in 2024.

From July 1, 2025, the regional minimum wage will be determined according to commune-level administrative units instead of district-level when the two-level local government model comes into operation.

TH (according to VnExpress)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/cong-doan-de-nghi-tang-luong-toi-thieu-vung-truoc-1-1-2026-415016.html