'Civil servants need to be able to live on their salary'

National Assembly Delegate Bo Thi Xuan Linh suggested that competent authorities pay more attention to the living standards of cadres, civil servants, and public employees, and find solutions so that they can live on their salaries.

Speaking at the National Assembly on the morning of November 21, Chairwoman of the Fatherland Front of Binh Thuan province, Bo Thi Xuan Linh, said that one of the effective solutions to prevent corruption is a reasonable salary regime to improve the living standards of workers.

"Salary and allowances are the main source of income for officials, civil servants and their families, but this policy still has many shortcomings. There needs to be a solution so that the salaries of officials, civil servants and public employees are equivalent to a decent living standard in society," said Ms. Linh.

Currently, the salaries of cadres, civil servants, public employees, and armed forces are calculated by multiplying the base salary (VND1.8 million) by the salary coefficient. The salary coefficient is calculated according to the rank of each group of civil servants. From July 1, civil servants of type A (senior specialist rank or equivalent) have the highest salary of VND14.4 million/month; the lowest is VND3.8 million/month.

Type B civil servants (specialist or equivalent), highest salary is 7.3 million VND/month; lowest is 3.3 million VND. Type C civil servants (specialist or equivalent), highest salary is 6.5 million VND/month; lowest is 2.4 million VND.

From mid-2024, cadres, civil servants, and public employees will be paid according to their job position instead of the current equalization coefficient. It is expected that from 2025, salaries of cadres, civil servants, public employees, and armed forces will continue to increase by an average of 7% per year, until the lowest salary in the public sector is equal to or higher than the lowest salary in region 1 of the business sector (the current minimum salary in region 1 is 4.68 million VND).

Delegate Bo Thi Xuan Linh speaks at the hall on the morning of November 21. Photo: National Assembly Media — Delegate Bo Thi Xuan Linh speaks at the hall on the morning of November 21. Photo: *National Assembly Media*

According to the delegate of Binh Thuan delegation, the work of preventing and combating corruption has achieved many important results in recent times. Corruption has been gradually controlled, prevented, and has tended to decrease. However, voters are still worried and troubled when corruption becomes more sophisticated. In many places, petty corruption still occurs, harassing businesses and people. Corruption even occurs among some people who are tasked with fighting corruption and in inspection, examination, investigation, and trial agencies.

Therefore, in addition to increasing salaries for officials and civil servants, Ms. Linh proposed that the mechanism of supervision and social criticism should be effective in practice. The process of handling violators should classify the masterminds and leaders for strict handling; violators who follow the instructions of their superiors should be considered lenient.

Delegate Dieu Huynh Sang speaks at the hall on the morning of November 21. Photo: National Assembly Media — Delegate Dieu Huynh Sang speaks at the hall on the morning of November 21. Photo: *National Assembly Media*

Delegate Dieu Huynh Sang, Deputy of Binh Phuoc delegation, is concerned about the increase in crime cases. After more than two years of experiencing the Covid-19 pandemic, the lives, jobs, and incomes of a segment of the population are difficult. Many traffic accidents and fires have caused particularly serious damage and are showing signs of increasing. Many new criminal methods and tricks have appeared such as in cyberspace, information technology, telecommunications, etc.

Ms. Sang requested the Government and the Judiciary to clarify the limitations, causes, and lessons learned from the above situation. Agencies need to fully assess the types of crimes that have tended to increase in recent times in order to have effective solutions, in which, paying attention to criminals who are drug addicts and people with mental illness.

"The government and agencies need to clarify solutions to new types of crimes such as hiding behind law firms and financial companies to collect debts, black credit and cyberspace," delegate Dieu Huynh Sang suggested.