'There is no shortage of dedicated people, just need a strong enough salary policy'

According to delegate Vu Thi Luu Mai, salary payment should be considered a form of investment in people and the future. Only a proportionate investment level can bring practical results.

"There is no shortage of dedicated people, we just need strong enough policies to create motivation and confidence for workers," said Vice Chairwoman of the Finance and Budget Committee Vu Thi Luu Mai when speaking at the National Assembly on the afternoon of May 31.

The female delegate pointed out the current situation of a new graduate's salary being less than 3.5 million VND and the average salary of a civil servant being around 10 million VND. Not compared to developed countries, this figure is still quite far from Southeast Asian countries, for example Thailand is 56.7 million VND, Malaysia is 29 million VND and Cambodia is 17 million VND.

Meanwhile, Resolution 27 of the Central Committee on reforming wage policy sets out a very specific roadmap, but in reality, it has been delayed for three years because the Government has to focus resources on development investment and the economic recovery program after the pandemic. Agreeing with this policy, she wondered why after more than two years, the recovery program still has more than 14,000 billion VND in unallocated capital; 29,000 billion VND in medium-term public investment plan capital has not been assigned.

"While tightening our belts to invest in development, some resources are still not being used effectively, which is a pity," she said.

Delegate Vu Thi Luu Mai talks about civil servant salaries — Vice Chairwoman of the Finance and Budget Committee Vu Thi Luu Mai spoke on the afternoon of May 31. Video: *National Assembly Television*

The female delegate of Hanoi said that voters are interested in the upcoming salary reform, how much the increase will be and "they need real change, not just formality". With the proposed increase of 21-22%, from the salary of 10 million VND, civil servants will only receive an increase of more than 2 million. Meanwhile, Resolution 27 sets the target that salary must be the main source of income, and salary policy must ensure international integration.

According to Ms. Mai, the above increase is a barrier in the competition to attract human resources and a barrier to social progress, especially when the battle to attract talent will be fierce in the context of many countries facing the problem of aging population; shifting to immigrant labor as the key to growth. "Without reasonable policies, we may lose right at home in the race to attract high-quality human resources," delegate Mai worried.

She recommended strictly implementing Resolution 27, annually allocating 50% of the estimated revenue increase, 70% of the local budget revenue increase, and 40% of the central budget revenue increase to salary reform. At the same time, agencies must comply with the order of priority in allocating revenue increase sources, and prioritize salary policy before considering investment projects.

Also concerned about the salary issue, Deputy Head of the National Defense and Security Committee Trinh Xuan An said that in addition to investing in equipment for the Army, it is necessary to support income and raise salaries so that officers and soldiers can serve with peace of mind. "The salary of a tank driver is currently less than half of a Grab driver's salary per month, which is very disadvantageous," said delegate An.

Explaining, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra said that the Ministry is advising competent authorities on a roadmap for reforming salary policies and ensuring income for cadres, civil servants and public employees.

Vietnam has undergone four salary reforms, in 1960, 1985, 1993 and 2003. According to Resolution 27 of 2018 of the Central Committee, the salary policy reform for cadres, civil servants, public employees and armed forces was scheduled to be implemented in July 2021. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this policy had to be postponed. At the November 2022 session, the National Assembly requested the Government to submit to competent authorities in 2023 a roadmap for salary policy reform according to this Resolution.

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