Vietnamese officials and public employees are still entitled to pay rise when retaining the statutory pay rate in 2021

Vietnamese officials and public employees are still entitled to pay rise when retaining the statutory pay rate in 2021 (Illustrative image)

On December 27, 2019, in Resolution 86/2019/QH14, the National Assembly of Vietnam assigned the Government of Vietnam to adjust the increase in the statutory pay rate from 1.49 million VND/month to 1.6 million VND/month while also adjusting pensions, social insurance allowances, monthly benefits according to regulations (for persons covered by the State Budget) and preferential allowances for people with meritorious services to the Revolution to be equal to the statutory pay rate from July 1, 2020.

However, due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, under Clause 7, Article 3 of Resolution 128/2020/QH14 on the 2021 State Budget estimate approved by the National Assembly of Vietnam on November 12, 2020, the National Assembly of Vietnam also agreed that in 2021, there would be no adjustment to the statutory pay rate and the poverty line. Also in this Resolution, in 2020, no adjustment to the statutory pay rate, pensions, social insurance allowances, monthly benefits (for subjects guaranteed by the State Budget), and preferential allowances for people with meritorious services to the Revolution was made. Resources were focused on fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the consequences of natural disasters, implementing existing social security policies, and ensuring national defense, security, and diplomacy.

Therefore, from January 1, 2021, the statutory pay rate for Vietnamese officials and public employees is not increased to 1.6 million VND/month and will remain at 1.49 million VND/month until new notice. With the maintenance of this statutory pay rate, the salary and allowances of Vietnamese officials and public employees in 2021 will also be calculated as currently. However, the lack of an increase in the statutory pay rate in 2021 does not mean that Vietnamese officials and public employees will not receive salary raises until the end of 2021, but instead, Vietnamese officials and public employees will still be elevated in salary step in 2021 if they meet the conditions regarding the time spent in the current step and the standards for regular salary step upgrade or early salary step upgrade.

Regarding policies on regular salary step upgrade in Vietnam

According to the provisions of Article 2 of Circular 08/2013/TT-BNV, Vietnamese officials and public employees are entitled to periodic salary step upgrade (one step) if they meet the following conditions:

- Meeting the conditions for the time spent in the current step to be considered for regular salary step upgrade:

- For the position of senior expert: If not yet at the final step in the senior expert salary scale, after 5 years (full 60 months) of holding the current step in the senior expert scale, one is eligible for promotion to a higher step;- For ranks and positions requiring a training level from college or higher: If not yet at the final step in the rank or position, after 3 years (full 36 months) of holding the current step in the rank or position, one is eligible for promotion to a higher step;- For ranks and positions requiring a training level from intermediate or lower and administrative and service staff: If not yet at the final step in the rank or position, after 2 years (full 24 months) of holding the current step in the rank or position, one is eligible for promotion to a higher step.

- Meeting the standards for regular salary step upgrade:

- For officials: Assessed by relevant authorities as completing the tasks but limited in capabilities or higher and not violating any disciplinary forms of reprimand, warning, demotion, or dismissal.- For public employees: Assessed by relevant authorities as completing the tasks or higher and not violating any disciplinary forms of reprimand, warning, demotion, or dismissal.

Thus, based on the above provisions, in 2021, Vietnamese officials and public employees will receive salary step upgrade if they meet all the listed conditions. Additionally, it is important to note that during the time spent in the current step in 2021, if Vietnamese officials and public employees have been notified or have a written decision from competent authorities stating that they did not complete the assigned annual tasks or were disciplined in one of the forms of reprimand, warning, demotion, or dismissal, the time for considering regular step upgrade will not be extended.

Regarding policies for early salary step upgrade

According to the provisions of Article 3 of Circular 08/2013/TT-BNV, Vietnamese officials and public employees are considered for early step upgrade in cases of outstanding achievements in task performance or retirement notification.

Therefore, Vietnamese officials and public employees will be eligible for early salary step upgrade in 2021 if they meet the conditions for promotion in the following two cases:

Case 1: Due to outstanding achievements in task performance

Vietnamese officials and public employees with outstanding achievements in task performance will be considered for early step upgrade if they meet the following conditions:

- Meet the following two standards during the time spent in the current step: Assessed by relevant authorities as completing the tasks but limited in capabilities or higher; and not violating any disciplinary forms of reprimand, warning, demotion, or dismissal.

- Outstanding achievements in task performance recognized by competent authorities by written decision;

- Not yet at the final step in the rank or position;

- As of December 31 of the year of early step upgrade consideration, only 12 months or less remain for regular step upgrade.

Case 2: Retirement notification

Vietnamese officials and public employees are considered for early step upgrade if they have received a retirement notification and meet the following conditions:

- Meet the following two standards during the time spent in the current step: Assessed by relevant authorities as completing the tasks but limited in capabilities or higher; and not violating any disciplinary forms of reprimand, warning, demotion, or dismissal.- Not yet at the final step in the rank or position;- From the date of receipt of the retirement notification to before the retirement date, only 12 months or less remain for regular step upgrade according to regulations.

It can be seen that the lack of increase in the statutory pay rate in 2021 is not the determining factor for salary raises for Vietnamese officials and public employees, but rather, Vietnamese officials and public employees who complete tasks, maintain the current step for promotion consideration, and are not disciplined, still have the opportunity for salary raises in the coming year.

>>> See more:

- When will Vietnamese officials and public employees be subject to prolonging the pay rise period?

- What is the statutory pay rate in 2021 applicable to Vietnamese officials and public employees in the new situation?

Ty Na

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