HCM CITY — Non-State companies and organisations should pay higher salaries than the new minimum wage set by the Government so that workers can meet their daily expenses, a HCM City official said.
Nguyen Thi Dan, head of the Department of Labour, Invalids, Social Affairs' Labour and Salary Office, said the cost of food and accommodation has been increasing relentlessly while the increase in minimum wage has not kept up.
The minimum salary for trained workers should be higher than the base levels by at least 7 per cent, and 12 per cent if they work in hazardous places.
The Government has also made changes to the wage zones (which are classified on a descending scale of 1 to 4), mostly in the south, following petitions that localities with the same cost of living are classified in different zones based just on location.
Under the new dispensation, foreign-owned businesses have to increase minimum salary from VND1 million-1.34 million to VND1.1 million–1.55 million per month, depending on the zone.
At domestic businesses and organisations, the wages have risen from VND730,000 – VND980,000 to VND830,000-VND1.35 million. — VNS
