The plan includes high salaries, work privileges, and special housing support to incentivize top professionals to contribute to Vietnam’s national development.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed a new policy granting senior experts extensive incentives, including salaries and government housing privileges equivalent to those of ministers.

The ministry is drafting a decree on the benefits and policies for senior experts, aiming to institutionalize the Party’s directive on offering exceptional incentives to these specialists working in central advisory agencies.

Accordingly, five key policies for senior experts have been proposed.

Regarding salaries, senior experts will be paid according to the salary scale set forth in Government Decree No. 204/2004, which regulates salaries for officials, public employees, and armed forces personnel.

Currently, the salary for senior experts is divided into three levels: 8.80, 9.40, and 10.00 on the salary coefficient scale, corresponding to salaries of approximately $820, $875, and $930 per month.

These figures are comparable to the salaries of ministers and heads of equivalent agencies, who receive salaries at coefficients of 9.7 and 10.3, corresponding to approximately $900 and $955 per month.

In addition, senior experts will receive an additional allowance of 150% of their current salary (including base salary and other legally stipulated allowances). However, this additional allowance will not be factored into mandatory social and health insurance contributions.

Furthermore, senior experts will be eligible for early salary increases or an exceptional salary upgrade if they achieve outstanding performance, as recognized by the competent authorities.

For retired individuals, professionals outside the state sector, Vietnamese experts living abroad, and foreign nationals appointed as senior experts, salaries will be determined by agreement. However, they must not be lower than the first salary level for senior experts plus the additional 150% allowance.

Heads of agencies will decide on the type of employment contract, specific terms, and remuneration for senior experts based on job requirements, expertise, and contributions.

Work conditions & benefits

Senior experts will be provided with the necessary resources, staff, equipment, and working facilities to effectively carry out their duties. If required, they will also receive special resources and equipment for research programs and projects deemed feasible and applicable in practice by competent authorities.

When attending domestic or international conferences and business trips related to projects or scientific research tasks, senior experts will receive full travel expenses equivalent to ministerial-level officials. They may also receive additional benefits based on agreements with their employing agencies, in accordance with legal regulations.

Housing policies

Senior experts will have priority access to government housing at the same standard as ministers. Alternatively, they can apply for loans from the Social Policy Bank at preferential interest rates to purchase, build, or renovate their homes, guaranteed by their employing agency.

Experts who make significant contributions to the country may also be allocated official residences as determined by competent authorities.

Since 2004, the only benefits implemented for senior experts have been salary, service allowances, and health care support. Other benefits have not been applied, and no breakthrough policies have been introduced to attract and develop a qualified pool of senior experts, particularly those from outside the public sector and renowned Vietnamese scientists abroad.

Additional perks & immigration policies

Senior experts will be entitled to a seven-day annual retreat in Vietnam, along with their families (up to five people). Their employing agencies will arrange and cover the costs of these retreats.

For Vietnamese experts living abroad or foreign nationals, the government will streamline paperwork processes and issue visas, residency permits, and work permits. Their family members (parents, spouses, and children under 18) will receive government support in employment, school admissions, and other local administrative procedures.

Senior experts and their families will be granted multiple-entry visas or temporary residence cards matching the duration of their employment contracts with central advisory agencies.

The employment of foreign senior experts will be explicitly outlined in their contracts, ensuring compliance with Vietnam’s labor laws for foreign workers and the operational regulations of their employing agencies.

Scope of application

This policy will apply to officials, public employees, and civil servants appointed as senior experts. It also covers retired individuals, Vietnamese experts living abroad, and foreign nationals recruited to serve as senior experts in key central agencies, including:

The Central Organization Commission

The Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commissions

The Central Internal Affairs Commission

The Central Policy and Strategy Commission

The Central Inspection Commission

The Office of the Party Central Committee

The Office of the President

The Government Office

The National Assembly Office

In July 2024, the Party Secretariat issued Regulation No. 180 on senior experts, mandating the government to establish policies and guidelines for their recruitment, including provisions for foreign experts and Vietnamese experts residing abroad.

Thu Hang