Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the total remuneration for chairmen of many local banks in the first half of 2021 was over VND200 million (over $9,000) per month, higher than the same period of last year.

The body that represents workers' rights in Vietnam is calling on the Government to increase minimum wage as the country's economy begins to show positive signs of recovery.

Average income of Vietnamese workers surged by 35% in 2016-2020 period, according to the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL).

Associate Professor Dinh Trong Thinh, a senior lecture of the Academy of Finance speaks about the Government’s proposal to not increase the monthly basic salary for civil servants and public employees next year.

Salaries increased by 6.5% this year at multinational companies (MNCs) and 5.2% at Vietnamese companies, and are forecast to increase by 7 per cent and 7.7% next year, according to the Talentnet – Mercer Total Remuneration Survey.

The National Wage Council has advised the Government to keep the minimum wage unchanged until the end of 2021 instead of raising it as planned.

According to audited financial reports 2018 from 20 Vietnamese banks, the average monthly income of banking employees in 2018 were VND12.37 million-34 million (USD521.73-1,478).

The monthly salary offered to chairs and CEO of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) has been described as ‘too low’ compared with the managers of private enterprises. However, many workers still compete for the posts.