Since January 1, 2014, the monthly minimum wage for employees will increase from VND 1.9 million (US$ 89.3) to VND 2.7 million (US$ 128).

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Finance’s proposal to cut the minimum wage by VND100,000 per month from January 2014, has encountered disagreement from the prime minister as well as many other government officials.

Viet Nam is a land of opportunity, especially HCM City, but Thai investors should be more strategic by creating both "aggressive and passive" business plans to maximise benefits when the ASEAN Economic Community takes effect in 2015,

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s National Wage Council was launched on Tuesday, marking a shift from a solely Government-led minimum wage fixing mechanism into a new tripartite body which recognizes the participation of workers and employers.

VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has recently signed a decision to establish the National Wage Council, headed by Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Minh Huan.

VietNamNet Bridge – Civil servants, members of the armed forces and socio-political organisation stafff will enjoy an increase of 9.5 per cent to their monthly minimum wage from July 1.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A lot of businesses say they have to borrow money from commercial banks to pay to workers.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The process involved in adjusting the minimum wage of workers has recently been under a lot of scrutiny from policy makers, public officials and labour experts.

VietNamNet Bridge – Business owners have been told to increase the workers’ wages in accordance with the roadmap set up by the management agencies. Meanwhile, their wage funds have become scantier in the economic crisis.

Businesses have voiced their concern over the implementation of the new wage policy. Some of them said they would cut down the labor force to cut down expenses.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The smell and sound of snuffling pigs fills the 7sq.m room of worker Ninh Thi Kieu in Yen Phong Industrial Zone.

Office workers, unskilled laborers and state employees all complain that their salaries are so modest and cannot cover their basic needs.