98 percent of government employees complain of low wages
VietNamNet Bridge – A survey at three ministries and 15 provinces reveals that more than 98 percent of government employees said that the current wage is low, which cannot cover their fundamental needs.


The independent survey on wages was conducted at the Ministry of Education and Training, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Science and Technology and 15 provinces in the north, the south and the central regions.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the minimum wage has been adjusted seven times since 2003, from VND210,000 ($15) to VND830,000 ($40) per month, higher than the increase of the consumer price index (CPI) and the growth of gross domestic product (85 percent).

Since 2008, the national economy has faced many difficulties due to the influences of the global financial crisis and global economic recession. The growth rate in the period of 2008-2011, therefore, is lower than that of the 2003-2007 period, while inflation is high. As a result, though the government raised minimum wage, the living standards of government employees are not improved.

According to the survey, more than 98 percent of interviewees said that the current minimum wages applied for government employees and military officers are low, which cannot cover their fundamental demands.

They proposed that the minimum wages for these subjects must be higher than that of businesses, to encourage them to devote their mind to their job in a bid to prevent corruption.

The Ministry of Home Affairs’ experts have suggested raising minimum wages for government employees and issuing a new wage system.

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