Vietnam to prioritize 2022 expenditure budget for raising basic salaries

The State expenditure budget 2022 would prioritize raising basic salaries, which is part of Vietnam’s finance-budget plan for the 2022-2024 period and the five-year national finance plan 2021-2025.

The Government is tasked with raising pension and basic salary from July 1, 2022. Photo: Chien Cong

The information was revealed in resolution No.01 on principles of State budget allocations in 2022 recently signed off by Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue.

The resolution also urged the Government to allocate sufficient funds for the wage reform process, set to begin in July 2022.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam in May 2018 issued resolution No.27 calling for raising the basic salary to VND1.6 million (US$70.17) per month since July 1, 2020, from the current VND1.49 million ($65.46). The Government, however, proposed to delay the deadline as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the economy.

On July 28, the NA issued a resolution on finance plan and debt payment in 2021-2025 that requests the Government to focus financial resources for raising pension and basic salary from July 1, 2022.

At a meeting with the NA’s Standing Committee in mid-August, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc said the Government is ready to raise the minimum salary next July as localities have set aside VND252 trillion ($11 billion) for this purpose.

Resolution N.01 also expected the Government to step up efficiency in the use of the State budget by gradually cutting regular spending and saving non-essential expenditure, including those for meetings, conferences, or foreign trips.

“The allocation of State budget should ensure transparency and simplicity to ensure fairness, publicity and in compliance with international practices,” it added.