VietNamNet Bridge - With the majority of yes votes, the National Assembly yesterday allowed the increase of wage for approximately 6.3 million people from January 2015, with a rise of 8%, equivalent to VND90,000 ($4.3) per month.

Of the beneficiaries, nearly 5 million people are paid by the state budget, worth VND11.1 trillion/year (over $528 million).

The same day the NA passed a resolution on socio-economic development plan in 2015, with the targeted GDP growth rate of 6.2% and inflation rate of about 5%.

The economic development goals set for 2015 by the NA:

Total domestic product (GDP) to increase by 6.2%.

Trade deficits compared with exports of about 5%.

The growth rate of consumer price index (CPI) of about 5%.

Total investment of social development about 30% -32% of GDP.

Poor household rate to reduce by 1.7% -2%, poor district rate to decrease by 4%.

Creating jobs for 1.6 million workers.

The unemployment rate in urban areas less than 4%.

The proportion of trained workers to reach 50%.

The percentage of malnourished children under age 5 to reduce to below 15%.

The number of hospital beds per 1,000 people (excluding beds at commune health stations) to be 23.5 beds.

The proportion of industrial zones, export processing zones with standard wastewater treatment systems to reach 82%.

The forest coverage rate to reach 42%.

Tran Cham