The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has announced two proposals for adjusting the minimum wage, which is set to take effect on January 1, 2027. These proposals suggest an increase of either 9.8% or 8.5% compared to the previous year's wage levels.

During the first meeting of the National Wage Council, Trần Thị Thanh Hà, a member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Head of the Labor Relations Department at the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, emphasized the urgency of adjusting the minimum wage to support workers and their families. The two proposed plans are as follows:

• Plan 1: Increase the minimum wage by 360,000 to 520,000 VND, averaging a 9.8% increase from 2026.
• Plan 2: Increase the minimum wage by 315,000 to 450,000 VND, averaging an 8.5% increase from 2026.

The Confederation has also proposed that the hourly minimum wage be calculated based on the monthly minimum wage, applying an adjustment coefficient. To support these proposals, surveys conducted in March and April 2026 across seven provinces and cities, involving 196 businesses and nearly 2,000 workers, revealed concerning trends in workers' financial conditions.

According to the survey, 54.3% of workers reported that their wages barely covered basic living expenses, a slight decrease from 54.9% in 2025. Additionally, 17.2% admitted to living frugally, while 20.6% stated they could not make ends meet without working extra hours. The survey indicated a growing financial strain on workers, with 26.8% regularly borrowing money to manage unexpected expenses, up from 12.5% in 2025.

Moreover, only 52.2% of workers could afford meat or fish at every main meal, a decline from 55.5% in 2025. The financial burden of education was also highlighted, with over 55.5% of workers indicating that their wages only partially covered their children's educational expenses.

The Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Hoàng Quang Phòng, supported the need for a minimum wage adjustment but suggested postponing the implementation to July 1, 2027, to give businesses more time to adapt to the changes in labor costs. He cautioned that a significant wage increase could lead to higher production costs, impacting the competitiveness of businesses.

Discussions regarding the timing and amount of the minimum wage increase will continue in future meetings of the National Wage Council.