VietNamNet Bridge – Minimum salary will be increased from VND 540,000 (US $31.70) to VND 650,000 (US $38.20) per month by May 2009, according to the National Assembly session.

A National Assembly session.

On Saturday, the National Assembly ratified the Resolution on State Budget Estimates for 2009. Accordingly, the total budget revenue would be VND 389.9 trillion (US $22.93 billion), equivalent to 21.5% of GDP. If VND 14.1 trillion of revenue of 2008 is added to 2009, the total budget revenue would be VND 404 trillion or US $23.76 billion.

Meanwhile, the total budget spending was estimated at VND 491.3 trillion (US $28.9 billion). The budget overspending, therefore, would be VND 87.3 trillion (US $5.1 billion), equivalent to 4.82% of GDP.

According to the National Assembly, budget spending estimates for 2009 was reduced, in which spending for salary reforms would fall from VND 43.6 trillion (US $2.56 billion) to VND 36.6 trillion (US $2.15 billion).

The minimum salary for state employees will be raised from VND 540,000 to VND 650,000 per month as of May 2009, instead of by April as the Government’s proposal.

(Source: Lao Dong)