The revised Labor Code topped the agenda of the National Assembly session on Tuesday. Many lawmakers pointed out that 90% of strikes in Vietnam over recent years were related to wages. Deputy Dang Ngoc Tung said that employees in private and foreign invested enterprises are paid based on the minimum wage rate regulated by the Government, which is said to be not enough to make ends meet. Tung suggested: “The Government should fix the minimum wage instead of adjusting it regularly to avoid triggering inflation. Employees will be paid based on the minimum wage plus additional money to cover inflation. This revolution in salary reform will help minimize labor disputes”.

Some deputies agreed on the need to increase overtime to 360 hours per year to sharpen the competitiveness of the domestic labor market and raise people’s income. Most legislators suggested maternity leave of 6 months for all female employees. Nguyen Thuy Hoan represents the northern province of Thai Nguyen: “Maternity leave should be at least 6 months to ensure female employees’ welfare after birth. Moreover, few kindergartens in Vietnam accept children under 6-months-old while UNICEF recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of the baby’s life.”