​(News Portal – Dong Nai) - Currently, most workers hope that the regional minimum wage (RMW) will meet their basic living needs. Additionally, they expect companies to implement supportive policies for housing and childcare to motivate workers to contribute and remain committed. 

Workers eager for regional minimum wage increases 

Challenging Living Conditions

Mr. Luong Van Chinh, a worker originally from Hà Giang Province, faces many challenges living far from home. According to him, over the past two years, his company has had no orders, causing his income to drop significantly. During the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in 2025, he stayed in Dong Nai to work overtime instead of returning home to increase his income.

Mr. Chinh shared, “Previously, when the company had stable orders, my income, including overtime, was about 9 million VND per month. Now, with no overtime, my monthly income has decreased to just over 5 million VND. After deducting expenses for rent, utilities, food, and transportation, I try saving as much as possible, yet I still struggle to make ends meet."

Similarly, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, who has worked for a textile company in Bien Hoa Industrial Park 2 for over four years, still earns a stagnant income of 5.3 million VND per month. To support her family, she has to work overtime tirelessly, leaving no time for rest. According to her, the company only raises salaries when adjustments to the RMW are made, not through regular annual reviews. As a result, workers like her face significant financial difficulties, as wages fail to keep up with rising market prices.

To improve their earnings, many workers are forced to work continuous overtime. For older workers, resigning is not a feasible option due to the difficulty of finding new jobs. Their only hope is for the RMW to be adjusted soon, allowing their families to live more comfortably.

The Need for Supportive Policies

In recent times, increases in food, electricity, and fuel prices have placed considerable pressure on the lives of migrant workers. According to labor union officials, the RMW has only been adjusted three times since 2020, with the last two adjustments capped at 6%. The highest regional minimum wage currently stands at nearly 5 million VND per month (Region I). However, surveys of worker living conditions in companies and rental housing reveal that these increases are insufficient to offset inflation.

Meanwhile, nearly 400,000 workers currently live in rented accommodations. A survey conducted by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL) shows that about 95% of migrant workers in concentrated industrial zones must rent privately owned rooms. Most of these rental spaces are cramped, with an average living space of only 3–4 square meters per person, failing to meet basic standards for hygiene, electricity, water, or living conditions. This environment affects workers' health and productivity.

Calculations indicate that the current RMW only covers the mandatory expenses for one individual. For workers with families and two children, their wages are inadequate. Consequently, they must find every possible way to increase their income, such as working overtime, which leads to extended work hours and numerous consequences.

To support workers, some companies in Dong Nai have adjusted wages at the beginning of 2025. For example, TKG Taekwang Vina Joint Stock Company (Bien Hoa City), which employs over 35,000 workers, has proactively alleviated workers' difficulties by increasing basic salaries by 100,000 VND per person starting January 1, 2025, despite no official announcement on RMW adjustments for 2025.

Recently, the VGCL announced that it would propose RMW adjustments annually in March after assessing the overall socio-economic situation. However, in 2025, government ministries and sectors are focusing on streamlining administrative structures. Therefore, the VGCL will officially propose adjustments to the RMW after key reorganization tasks are completed in early March. Preliminary surveys on labor demand, market conditions, and commodity prices have already been conducted.

In tandem with these efforts, Dong Nai's labor unions have intensified activities to care for and support union members and workers through effective initiatives. This was evident during the 2025 Lunar New Year, when over 700,000 workers in difficult circumstances were supported. Labor unions organized transportation for 10,000 workers to return home for Tet on special buses. For the 65,000 workers who stayed in Dong Nai, unions visited rental housing areas to deliver gifts, extend greetings, and organize cultural activities for workers. ​