VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam is becoming an industrialized and
modernized country but the planned minimum salary for civil servants by 2018 is
only VND3 million ($150) per month. It is too low, commented VietNamNet’s
readers.
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>> Deputy Minister explains about salaries
>> Salary absurdity
A hundred readers sent their feedback to VietNamNet after reading our news about the scheduled minimum salary for civil servants by 2018.
The Prime Minister-approved administrative reform plan for 2011-2020 says that by 2020, salaries of civil servants will be enough to ensure their living standards a little higher than the medium level.
However, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Thu, vice head of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Salary Department, recently said that by 2018, the government would try to increase minimum salary of civil servants to around VND3 million per month.
“I’m a civil servant. The current salary is too low compared to the common level. If the minimum salary by 2018 is scheduled at VND3 million, it will be much lower than the common level because at that time, the minimum salary in the society will be at least VND6-7 million per month. How will we live with that salary?” a reader wrote.
Another reader, named Phuc Nguyen, also said that VND3 million by 2018 is too low. “I don’t understand how policy-makers think? If they do not change their mind, salaries will keep running after price,” Nguyen wrote.
Reader Hoang Van Hung suggested that the minimum salary of VND3 million will be sufficient for 2013.
Pity for civil servants
At a meeting to review the 2001-2010 administrative reform program held in early 2011, an official from the Ministry of Education and Training, Mr. Nguyen Van Vui, asked the government to change the salary policy to enable civil servants to have a better life.
Since then the salary policy has not changed remarkably. VietNamNet has received a lot of complaints from our readers who are civil servants.
Thu Huong wrote: “It is pity for civil servants of Vietnam. How much inflation rate will be in 2018? At that time VND3 million will be able to cover how much percentage of civil servants’ life?”
Reader Nguyen Van wrote: “I’m a civil servant but when salary was increased I was not happy, because whenever my salary rose a little, the price increased highly.”
Reader Thanh Son proposed: “We beg policy makers to change their commitment. We do not need salary increase in 2018. We only wish that there will have no inflation at that time. At present, we are frightened to hear about salary increase.”
Another reader shared: “My family has four members. We are sparing with money but we have to spend VND14-15 million ($700) per month. By 2018 or six years later, I don’t know how much will the inflation rate but with minimum salary of VND3 million at that time, it is surely to not enough for just the salary receiver.”
Many people questioned what is the basis for the number VND3 million? How much rice, vegetable and meat that VND3 million can buy in 2018?
Which exit?
Readers suggested that salary reform is a right-now task, not a target. They said that the government should adjust annual salaries based on the real price, and the priority is increasing salaries to civil servants to the level that can cover their living costs in 2013.
“With the above scheduled salary, when will civil servants be able to live with their salary and do not have to worry about money, so they can concentrate their mind on their job and whole-heartedly serve the community,” reader Ngoc Son wrote.
“At present, VND6 million is not enough to ensure average living standards for civil servants while they have to support their families. To keep salaries at bar with the current life, minimum salary should be increased to VND3.2 million and it should be adjusted annually based on the growth of GDP and the increase of the consumer price index so that salary will be the real income,” he added.
A reader named Nang wrote: “Whenever civil servants are recruited based on their ability, the number of civil servants in need will be equivalent to one fourth of the current number. It means that minimum salary can rise by four folds and civil servants can easily live by their salary.”
Thai An
The Prime Minister-approved administrative reform plan for 2011-2020 says that by 2020, salaries of civil servants will be enough to ensure their living standards a little higher than the medium level.
However, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Thu, vice head of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Salary Department, recently said that by 2018, the government would try to increase minimum salary of civil servants to around VND3 million per month.
“I’m a civil servant. The current salary is too low compared to the common level. If the minimum salary by 2018 is scheduled at VND3 million, it will be much lower than the common level because at that time, the minimum salary in the society will be at least VND6-7 million per month. How will we live with that salary?” a reader wrote.
Another reader, named Phuc Nguyen, also said that VND3 million by 2018 is too low. “I don’t understand how policy-makers think? If they do not change their mind, salaries will keep running after price,” Nguyen wrote.
Reader Hoang Van Hung suggested that the minimum salary of VND3 million will be sufficient for 2013.
Pity for civil servants
At a meeting to review the 2001-2010 administrative reform program held in early 2011, an official from the Ministry of Education and Training, Mr. Nguyen Van Vui, asked the government to change the salary policy to enable civil servants to have a better life.
Since then the salary policy has not changed remarkably. VietNamNet has received a lot of complaints from our readers who are civil servants.
Thu Huong wrote: “It is pity for civil servants of Vietnam. How much inflation rate will be in 2018? At that time VND3 million will be able to cover how much percentage of civil servants’ life?”
Reader Nguyen Van wrote: “I’m a civil servant but when salary was increased I was not happy, because whenever my salary rose a little, the price increased highly.”
Reader Thanh Son proposed: “We beg policy makers to change their commitment. We do not need salary increase in 2018. We only wish that there will have no inflation at that time. At present, we are frightened to hear about salary increase.”
Another reader shared: “My family has four members. We are sparing with money but we have to spend VND14-15 million ($700) per month. By 2018 or six years later, I don’t know how much will the inflation rate but with minimum salary of VND3 million at that time, it is surely to not enough for just the salary receiver.”
Many people questioned what is the basis for the number VND3 million? How much rice, vegetable and meat that VND3 million can buy in 2018?
Which exit?
Readers suggested that salary reform is a right-now task, not a target. They said that the government should adjust annual salaries based on the real price, and the priority is increasing salaries to civil servants to the level that can cover their living costs in 2013.
“With the above scheduled salary, when will civil servants be able to live with their salary and do not have to worry about money, so they can concentrate their mind on their job and whole-heartedly serve the community,” reader Ngoc Son wrote.
“At present, VND6 million is not enough to ensure average living standards for civil servants while they have to support their families. To keep salaries at bar with the current life, minimum salary should be increased to VND3.2 million and it should be adjusted annually based on the growth of GDP and the increase of the consumer price index so that salary will be the real income,” he added.
A reader named Nang wrote: “Whenever civil servants are recruited based on their ability, the number of civil servants in need will be equivalent to one fourth of the current number. It means that minimum salary can rise by four folds and civil servants can easily live by their salary.”
Thai An
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