According to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), December 15 was the deadline for provinces and cities to report on wages and Tet bonuses. The bonuses are nearly the same as the previous year, but a big gap exists in bonus levels.

The highest Tet bonus for the Year of the Snake so far, VND519 million, is being offered by a company in Binh Duong. The figure is lower than the highest Tet bonus in the province offered in 2024 – VND5.68 billion for senior managers at a Japanese owned enterprise.

Another locality with anticipated high Tet bonuses is Binh Duong. The provincial Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs reported that 1,771 companies have submitted their reports on Tet bonuses. Of these, 1,676 companies have provided details on bonuses, while 95 others have not made final decisions.

It is expected that the highest bonus for 2025 New Year in Binh Duong will be VND368 million per person, offered by an FIE (foriegn invested enterprise), while the highest bonus for 2025 Tet will be VND375 million per person, also offered by an FIE.

The average expected Lunar New Year bonus for 2025 is estimated at VND8.77 million VND per person, with the lowest bonus of VND4.96 million per person, applicable to employees who have worked for 12 months in 2024.

In Dak Lak, the average pay to workers in 2024 is VND8.95 million per person per month. The highest level is VND104.95 million, while the lowest is VND3.5 million.

Of the 118 companies in the locality, 93 plan to give Tet bonuses in 2025 to over 13,000 workers. The average bonus is VND6.13 million per person, with the highest level at VND94 million and the lowest at VND200,000.

In general, businesses offer bonuses for both New Year and Tet holidays. Under the 2019 Labor Code, workers have one day off in New Year holiday and receive full salary.

For New Year's holiday, employees may receive bonuses from employers in the form of money or assets. According to Article 104 of the Labor Code, bonuses are the amounts of money, assets, or other forms that the employers give to employees based on business performance and job completion results.

The bonus levels and forms must be publicly announced by employers. Bonuses can be high or low, and businesses with bad business results may not give bonuses. 

However, in reality, most companies, even those facing difficulties, still budget for New Year bonus to encourage employees' dedication and creativity, enhancing production efficiency and productivity.

If workers work during holiday, their income will be 300 percent of normal working day.

US$1 = VND25,000

N. Huyen