Increasing regional minimum wages from 1.1.2026, motivating workers

Enterprises pay basic salary higher than regional minimum wage

Decree 293/2025/ND-CP stipulates the regional minimum wage (LTT) for employees working under labor contracts. Accordingly, from January 1, 2026, the monthly minimum wage in 4 regions will increase compared to the current level, specifically as follows: Region I: increase by 350,000 VND, from 4,960,000 VND/month to 5,310,000 VND/month; Region II: increase by 320,000 VND, from 4,410,000 VND/month to 4,730,000 VND/month; Region III: increase by 280,000 VND from 3,860,000 VND/month to 4,140,000 VND/month; Region IV: increase by 250,000 VND from 3,450,000 VND/month to 3,700,000 VND/month.

Talking to reporters, Ms. Le Thi Toan (a garment worker in Bac Ninh province) really hopes to get a salary increase from the beginning of 2026: "Currently, the enterprise where I work has paid a salary higher than the regional labor market. I hope that when the LTT in the region increases, my basic salary will be adjusted by the enterprise to increase further so that I can have a higher income and better ensure my life".

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung - Chairman of the Trade Union of Ha Bac Garment Export Joint Stock Company (Bac Ninh province) - said that currently, the lowest basic salary for workers in the company is 4,984,000 VND/month and from January 1, 2026, the lowest is 5,345,000 VND (higher than the minimum wage in region II (4,730,000 VND). Thus, the company is implementing a basic salary higher than the regional minimum wage currently applied in the area where the company is located.

Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thi Y (a worker in Thang Long Industrial Park, Hanoi City) said that after 10 years of working, she currently has a basic salary of 10 million VND; total income is 12 million VND. "There are years when regional credit growth increases, businesses will adjust the basic salary to increase from the beginning of the following year. I hope that in 2026, the company will continue to increase salaries, so my income will increase, improving the lives of workers like me, said Ms. Nguyen Thi Y.

Mr. Le Dinh Quang - an expert on labor - trade unions, former member of the National Wage Council - said that the time to adjust regional LTT has always been from January 1, except for 2 times (in 2022 and 2024) from July 1 due to socio-economic conditions, especially the time affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.

Mr. Quang said that the increase in the basic salary from January 1 will facilitate businesses in proactively planning production and business, developing unit prices and salaries for the whole year. However, the disadvantage is that if it increases from January 1, it will often coincide with the Lunar New Year. Thus, businesses must adjust both bonuses, salaries during the Lunar New Year and LTT levels at the same time, which will increase pressure on businesses.

From the perspective of workers, according to Mr. Le Dinh Quang, increasing LTT from January 1 will create more motivation for workers, thereby they will have a better working spirit, attached to the enterprise...

"After a year of work, if workers see their salary increase next year, especially from the first day of the new year, they will certainly be excited and motivated to work with better productivity, quality and efficiency. They also expect to continue to work better so that next year they will have higher salaries and incomes than last year, Mr. Le Dinh Quang analyzed.

According to labor experts and trade unions, when the labor market increases, most of the salaries of workers will increase. However, Mr. Quang said that there are cases where when workers' salaries are high, the increase may be low or their income will not increase, but at least their social insurance contribution will increase, so in general, workers will still benefit in the long term.

Grassroots trade unions proactively participate with employers

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has just issued an official dispatch on the implementation of Decree No. 293/2025/ND-CP dated November 10, 2025 of the Government by the Trade Union.

Accordingly, the Presidium of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor requested the provincial and municipal Labor Federations, Central Trade Unions, Economic Group Trade Unions, and General Corporation Trade Unions under the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to focus on implementing a number of tasks, including disseminating and disseminating the content of Decree No. 293/2025/ND-CP to union members, workers and grassroots trade unions for implementation in accordance with regulations.

Along with that, directing grassroots trade unions to proactively participate with employers in the process of building and adjusting the salary scale of enterprises according to the new regulations in Decree No. 293/2025/ND-CP. Regularly monitor, grasp the situation, synthesize the opinions and legitimate aspirations of union members and workers, review labor standards and conditions to proactively propose dialogues and negotiations with employers to establish agreements on wages and other labor conditions to meet the legitimate requirements of workers.

In addition, strengthen coordination with local authorities to participate in inspecting, examining, and supervising compliance with labor laws, trade unions, social insurance, etc. of enterprises, especially the implementation of Decree No. 293/2025/ND-CP of the Government and recommend timely handling of violations by enterprises...

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