Vietnamese Leader Raises Minimum Salary Of Gov't, Enterprise Workers

November 22, 2007 10:08 a.m. EST

Hanoi, Vietnam (AHN) - Vietnam is raising its minimum wage. Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has signed three decrees that raise the minimum monthly wage of workers in the government, local firms and foreign enterprises. The wage hike is in effect on Jan. 1, 2008.

The online newspaper of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam reported that one decree increases state worker's salary to $33.78 from $28.15. Cpv.org.vn said the new salary will apply to workers in the military, political and social organizations, non-business agencies and companies operating under the enterprise law.

Tan Dung also decreed the increase in the minimum salary of workers in domestic enterprises in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to $38.78. Workers in domestic businesses located outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh cities will get $36.29 while businesses in other cities and towns will pay workers minimum salaries of $33.78, the same as state workers.

Employees of foreign businesses in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh cities will have minimum salary of $62.56, which is equivalent to one million dong, the local currency.

Foreign employers operating outside the two cities will pay laborers a minimum monthly wage of $56.30. Laborers in foreign enterprises in other cities and towns will get $50.05.