Salary increase, half happy half worried

The staff, civil servants and public employees benefit from salary increases according to regulations.

In fact, the increase in basic salary has brought great joy to the staff, civil servants, public employees, and retirees in the province. In particular, the increase in pensions and social insurance benefits for retired social insurance participants has contributed significantly to ensuring social security. As soon as he learned about the salary increase from July 1, Mr. Tran Xuan Binh, Thanh Binh Ward (Dien Bien Phu City) was very excited when his salary increased by 15%. Mr. Binh shared: “The increase in basic salary from 1.8 million VND to 2.34 million VND/month is the highest increase ever. Although my monthly salary is not very high, this increase also contributes significantly to daily expenses. On the other hand, the increase in salary also shows the attention of the Party and State for retired cadres like us, which is a great source of encouragement!”.

Sharing the joy with retired cadres, many civil servants and public employees were also very excited. After many years of working and being attached to the career of "growing people", teacher Lo Van Chinh, Huoi Leng Primary School for Ethnic Minorities (Muong Cha district) as well as his colleagues were very happy to receive a salary increase. Teacher Chinh confided: "This salary adjustment is quite high compared to previous salary increases. When receiving a salary increase, teachers in mountainous areas like us will have more income to cover our daily lives. When life is more stable, not only me but also many other colleagues will be more dedicated to teaching and have more motivation to strive and stick with the profession".

The adjustment to increase the basic salary makes many teachers very excited.

Increasing the basic salary is good news for many officials, civil servants, public employees, and public sector workers, retirees, but there are also many worries when facing rising prices and personal income tax. Because usually when salaries increase, prices of goods and commodities also increase with salaries. So according to the theory, increasing salaries, income increases, life is better, but it makes many people worry because just because salaries increase, the prices of consumer goods increase more...

Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich, Muong Cha town (Muong Cha district) said: “After retirement, we have no other income besides pension, so an increase of a few hundred thousand dong is also a joy. However, in addition to the joy and excitement of the salary increase, I am also worried that the salary increase will cause prices to increase. With rising prices, people with salaries like us are better off, but for those without salaries, it is even more difficult…”.

When salaries increase, people worry about the price of gasoline, oil, electricity, water and other goods increasing, affecting their daily lives.

In fact, for many years now, every time there is information about a salary increase, officials, civil servants, public employees, public sector workers, and retirees are worried about the skyrocketing prices of consumer goods. This causes the salary increase to be insufficient to compensate for inflation, so people's worries are not unreasonable. Those who benefit from the increase in the basic salary will not be affected much because they will also receive a salary increase; but for those who do not receive a salary, life becomes even more difficult.

Ms. Tran Thi Thu, Tan Thanh Ward (Dien Bien Phu City) shared: “Increasing salary is only beneficial for those who have a salary, but for me, not having a monthly salary makes things more difficult. If the market stabilizes prices, all people like us will have less trouble. But if the salary increases, the price of fish and vegetables will also increase, so for civil servants, public employees, and pensioners, adjusting salary is meaningless. As for people like us, it will have a significant impact on living expenses.”

Up to this point, the prices of pork and commercial fish have increased; the remaining food and foodstuff prices remain stable.

In fact, after 3 days of increasing the basic salary, on July 4, gasoline prices were adjusted to increase. Of which, gasoline prices increased from 447 - 542 VND, while oil prices increased by more than 600 VND (depending on the type). The increase in gasoline and oil prices is likely to increase the prices of food and foodstuffs as well. To learn about market prices after increasing the basic salary, reporters recorded the feedback of some consumers at markets in Dien Bien Phu City. Accordingly, from the time of adjusting the basic salary until now, other food items such as: Rice, cereals; processed foods; fish sauce, dipping sauce; spices; milk, butter, cheese; cakes, jams, candies; green vegetables, fruits... are assessed to remain stable. Some types of food such as: Pork has increased in price from 10 - 30 thousand VND/kg; commercial fish has also increased from 10 - 20 thousand VND/kg...

Currently, only gasoline, oil and a few foods have increased in price, while other items remain stable; however, this is only the first day of increasing the basic salary. Therefore, to avoid the situation where increasing the basic salary leads to an increase in the price of goods as a "scenario", the authorities need to take measures to control and stabilize the prices of essential goods, so that the salary increase is truly meaningful, contributing to improving the quality of life for the people.

Source: https://baodienbienphu.com.vn/tin-tuc/kinh-te/216513/tang-luong-nua-mung-nua-lo