Low Tet bonuses stop workers from going home

The average bonus given to Vietnamese workers for Tet (Lunar New Year), a week-long festival that falls at the end of this month, is VND4.9 million (US$218) per worker, almost equivalent to a month’s average salary and 96% of last year’s level of VND5.1 million (US$227).

The metric was announced recently by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

However, some workers’ bonuses are creating real holiday tension.

Ta Thi Thuy, a garment worker in the southern province of Binh Duong, will not return to her hometown in the central province of Thanh Hoa to enjoy Tet this year as her bonus is simply too small for her to afford the trip.

Photo for illustration. VNA
Photo for illustration. VNA

Thuy’s company, part of the Song Than Industrial Zone, has not officially announced its bonus for the upcoming festival. However, rumour has it that the bonus will equal to last year’s: it will be a month’s salary, VND4 million.

Thuy broke her leg recently and all of her savings were spent on hospital fees. With low Tet bonus, she was afraid that she would not have enough funds to come back to her hometown.

“Besides funds for travelling, I must buy presents for my family and relatives that could equal my salary of several months,” she said. “I’d love to return home but I would run out of money after the festival, so I will not come back my hometown.

Nguyen Thi Hanh, worker in a garment company in the northern port city of Hai Phong, received an even lower Tet bonus than Thuy.

“After a hard working year, my company rewards us only VND100,000 (US$4) and the money is too humble compared to what we had done,” said Hanh.

At present prices, Hanh believes that the Tet bonus is only enough for  her breakfast some days.

The highest Tet bonus recorded for this year was VND1 billion (US$44,400). The highest figure last year was for a member of an enterprise funded by foreign direct investment in the northern province of Hai Duon g – VND624 million (US$27,700).

The lowest Tet bonus recorded for this year was in a private enterprise in the southern province of Ben Tre and several FDI businesses in Thai Binh, Tay Ninh and Hai Duong provinces – VND50,000 (US$2.2) per worker.

Tong Van Lai, deputy director of the Labour and Salary Department under the MoLISA, said that workers with low Tet bonus or no bonus were in enterprises with ineffective production.

“The ministry issued guidelines to enterprises in different parts of the country to join with trade unions and find funding sources for financial support for workers over Tet,” he said.

Phi Ngoc Trinh, Deputy Director of the Ho Guom Garment JSC, said that the company gave annual Tet bonuses to its workers to ensure that everyone could come back to their hometown to enjoy the festival.

The bonus often equals a month’s salary and could be more if company incomes are strong, he said.

Former MoLISA Deputy Minister Pham Minh Huan said that every enterprise took care of their workers in the Tet festival, because they develop best with healthy and happy workers.

Businesses with strong incomes give proper bonus to their workers, and only a small amount of struggling enterprises five their workers low bonus or no bonus, he added.

VNA

Other News

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Under the plan, all central and local media outlets are required to launch columns on the campaign, maintain regular coverage, and produce at least five to seven in-depth reports each month in key search areas. Media agencies will also be encouraged to gather and verify valuable information and develop high-quality products in both Vietnamese and foreign languages, including feature articles, documentaries, reports and short videos.

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed confidence that the establishment will serve as a strong spiritual anchor for Vietnamese people living in Japan while contributing to friendship and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

Cyberspace now runs through children’s learning, entertainment, and daily lives, but warned it is laced with dangerous content, online insults, threats, and seemingly harmless clicks that can trigger fraud, data breaches, and risks children who are not yet equipped to handle.

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

A scholar has stressed the need for Vietnam to make use of cooperation opportunities arising from the RoK’s foreign policy, particularly in semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chains, digital transformation, and green energy, as well as chances in multilateral diplomacy.

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

Pham Van Hat is best known as the creator of the made-in-Vietnam “Seed Sowing Robot,” now exported to 15 countries, alongside dozens of practical inventions that have eased labour for thousands of farmers.

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Films, music, television programmes, e-books, video games, journalistic works, images and creative data can now be copied, edited and redistributed within minutes. While copyright violations were once linked mainly to pirated discs or counterfeit books, infringements have shifted online with faster speed, wider scale and greater anonymity.

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Consul General Nguyen Viet Kien stressed President Ho Chi Minh’s reputation and career transcended Vietnam’s borders to inspire liberation movements worldwide, and that his ideas on the right to self-determination, peace, and friendship among nations remain deeply relevant today.

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

A key target under the new plan is the establishment of five digital technology incubators, or Deeptech Hubs, at universities and research institutes with strong potential. The education ministry also plans to launch a training programme for 1,000 outstanding technology entrepreneurs and develop criteria for selecting and supporting startup ecosystems within educational institutions.

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

To accelerate the implementation of the the Ethnic Affairs Strategy by 2030, with a vision toward 2045, the Prime Minister requested ministries, agencies and local authorities to continue thoroughly carrying out the Party and State’s policies on ethnic affairs, enhancing the effectiveness of State management and strengthening oversight of policy implementation.

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

The team examined the APEC 2027 Convention Centre, where main conference activities are scheduled; Sun Serenia Hospital, designated to provide healthcare and emergency medical services for delegates; provincial road DT.975, which connects Phu Quoc International Airport to the convention centre; and the area surrounding Phu Quoc International Airport.