The General Confederation of Labor in Vietnam is steadfast in its proposal for two options for increasing the regional minimum wage by 8.5% to 9.8%, which is scheduled to be discussed in the upcoming session of the National Salary Council on July 16, 2027. According to Ngo Duy Hieu, Vice President of the General Confederation of Labor, the representatives of workers are committed to maintaining the same proposals discussed in the first session.

The first option suggests an average increase of 9.8%, which translates to an increase of 360,000 to 520,000 VND per person per month. The second option proposes an average increase of 8.5%, equating to an increase of 315,000 to 450,000 VND per person per month. Additionally, the proposed hourly minimum wage will be determined based on the monthly minimum wage with an adjustment coefficient applied.

The General Confederation of Labor has also proposed that the new minimum wage take effect from January 1, 2027. This adjustment aims to ensure that workers' living standards are met. A recent survey of nearly 2,000 workers across 196 enterprises in seven provinces revealed that over 40% of businesses are maintaining growth, while 24% plan to expand production. However, many workers are facing income challenges, with most earnings barely covering essential needs, leaving little room for savings.

In this context, the General Confederation of Labor believes that adjusting the minimum wage could help narrow the gap between income and the minimum living standards, providing workers with a better quality of life. Conversely, Hoang Quang Phong, Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, acknowledged the necessity of adjusting the minimum wage but suggested that the increase should be timed for July 1, 2027. He emphasized that the specific increase and timing will continue to be discussed in the upcoming National Salary Council session.

Since 2009, the regional minimum wage has been adjusted 17 times, with the most recent increase effective January 1 this year. Currently, the minimum wage for Region I is 5.31 million VND per month, Region II is 4.73 million VND, Region III is 4.14 million VND, and Region IV is 3.7 million VND. This represents an increase of 250,000 to 350,000 VND per month, or approximately 7.2%, compared to 2025. The hourly minimum wage for Region I is set at 25,500 VND, Region II at 22,700 VND, Region III at 20,000 VND, and Region IV at 17,800 VND.