Will the regional minimum wage be adjusted to increase from January 1, 2026?

At the first meeting of the National Wage Council, the regional minimum wage increase for 2026 was not agreed upon, however, all parties proposed a wage increase from January 1, 2026.

The National Wage Council held its first meeting in 2025. (Photo: CT/Vietnam+)

After the first meeting of the National Wage Council took place on the morning of June 26, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Chairman of the National Wage Council Nguyen Manh Khuong said that the parties have not yet found a common voice and have not yet agreed on a plan to increase the regional minimum wage in 2026. The next meeting of the National Wage Council is expected to take place in early August 2025.

Workers' representatives propose 9.3% increase

Presenting a report at the meeting, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor said that based on the synthesis of reports from provincial and municipal labor federations, central and equivalent industry unions, and general corporation unions under the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor on the implementation of Decree No. 74/2024/ND-CP, it showed that most enterprises have seriously implemented salary adjustments at the enterprise with an average increase of 6%.

The results of the investigation and survey by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (March and April 2025) in 10 provinces and centrally-run cities also showed that: 93.25% of employees in the surveyed enterprises said that the minimum wage had been adjusted according to regulations. However, some enterprises only adjusted for a part of employees with low wages, only to pay insurance, so the actual salary of employees did not increase.

According to the survey results conducted by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor in March-April 2025 with nearly 3,000 workers responding to questionnaires in 10 provinces and cities, 54.9% of workers said their salary and income were just enough for basic family expenses; 26.3% had to be frugal and spend frugally; 7.9% did not have enough to live on and had to do other jobs to earn more income to cover their living expenses.

In the context of income not meeting family spending needs, workers have to "tighten their belts" and save to ensure their lives; in many cases, workers have to borrow money to pay for unexpected needs.

The representative of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor said that based on the survey results and the central government's instructions, and the recent socio -economic situation report, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor proposed two options for increasing the regional minimum wage. One option is to increase by 8.3% and the second option is to increase by 9.2% when adjusting the minimum wage from January 1, 2026.

Two proposed options for increasing regional minimum wages in 2026 by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.

Speaking on the sidelines with reporters, Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and Vice President of the National Wage Council, said that the minimum wage increase will continue to be negotiated. In principle, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor will propose a harmonious approach, both ensuring the rights of workers and creating conditions for businesses to have the opportunity to recover and develop in a context of many challenges.

Workers' representatives propose 3-5% increase

Along with the two proposed minimum wage increases from the labor representative, Mr. Hoang Quang Phong, Vice President of the Vietnam Confederation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Vice President of the National Wage Council, also proposed an adjustment from 3% to 5%.

“This level is moderate, aiming to increase the room for businesses to adapt, have conditions to reward diligent workers, especially effectively implementing Resolution 57 on increasing labor productivity and innovation,” said Mr. Hoang Quang Phong.

Mr. Phong emphasized that the decision on the specific increase level needs to continue to be negotiated within the council and there is currently no official document.

Employers' representatives also proposed the time to apply the minimum wage increase from January 1, 2026.

The option proposed by the Technical Department of the National Wage Council at the meeting was to increase the minimum wage from 6.5% to 7%.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Cuong, an independent expert of the Council, assessed that this year's minimum wage negotiations have many unpredictable factors, due to the context related to the Vietnam-US trade negotiations.

From a personal perspective, Mr. Cuong believes that increasing the minimum wage must ensure the basic principle of compensating for inflation and ensuring a minimum standard of living.

Thus, in addition to the salary increase date of January 1, 2026, the proposed salary increase levels of the three parties are still very different and have not reached an agreement in the first meeting. It is expected that the National Wage Council will hold its second meeting in August 2025./.

According to Vietnam+

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/muc-luong-toi-thieu-vung-se-duoc-dieu-chinh-tang-tu-ngay-1-1-2026-253284.htm