VietNamNet Bridge – Minimum monthly salaries will increase next year for State employees, but the amount will still be lower than for workers at private enterprises.

Ministry of Information and Communications' staff will get a pay increase next year. However, they will still be earning far less than their private-sector counterparts. (Photo: VNS)

Doan Cuong, head of the Ministry of Home Affairs' Wages and Salary Department, said the increased minimum salary for cadres, civil servants and State employees would be only half of the minimum monthly salary for workers in urban areas, which stands at VND2 million ($95) per month.

The minimum salary will be only 75 per cent of the minimum salary for workers in underdeveloped and remote areas, which is VND1.4 million ($67) per month.

Speaking at a conference on salary reform held in HCM City on Tuesday, Cuong said that the minimum salaries for cadres, civil servants and public employees should be adjusted to correspond with salaries paid by enterprises in the context of the market economy and global integration.

Salaries of cadres, civil servants and State employees must be sufficient to meet basic needs and support of dependents, he added.

If the salaries of cadres, civil servants and public employees were too low compared with other workers in the market economy, it would be difficult for State agencies and organisations to have a stable workforce, he said.

Three schemes for minimum salaries for cadres and civil servants have been suggested for the 2013-20 period, with three different minimum wage levels, VND3.15 million

($150) per month, VND2 million ($95) and VND1.68 million ($80) per month.

Under the proposal, the minimum wage for public employees would be equal to the minimum salary for workers at private companies or equal to those for cadres and civil servants.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News