Sad and happy stories about Tet bonuses

(Baonghean) - Every time Tet comes, what every worker looks forward to is to receive a bonus to cover expenses and support their family. However, in the context of the still difficult economy and the increase in regional minimum wages, this year's bonus is expected to have few changes.

Salary increase, bonus remains the same

Implementing the directive of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) on quickly reporting on the situation of wages and Tet bonuses of employees, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs conducted an investigation and survey at 169 enterprises located in the area, including: 24 state-owned LLCs; 25 enterprises with shares and capital contributions from the State; 90 private enterprises and 30 enterprises with foreign direct investment (FDI).

Giving gifts for the Lunar New Year 2017 to workers of Nghe An Packaging and General Trading Joint Stock Company. Photo: Thanh Cuong

According to the survey, the average Tet bonus that businesses give to employees this year ranges from 3.9 - 4.2 million VND/person (2016: 4.3 - 4.6 million VND); the highest is 63 million VND/person and the lowest is 200,000 VND/person.

In which, the highest bonus for state-owned enterprises is 40 million VND/person, average 4.1 million VND/person, lowest 200,000 VND/person; the highest bonus for enterprises with controlling shares and capital contributions from the state is 50 million VND/person, average 4.2 million VND/person, lowest 2 million VND/person; the highest bonus for private enterprises is 15 million VND, average 3.9 million VND/person, lowest 1 million VND/person; the average bonus for FDI enterprises is 4.1 million VND/person, highest 60 million VND/person and lowest 250,000 VND/person.

The synthesis also shows that although the bonus level has decreased compared to Tet 2016, the average salary has increased. Specifically, the average salary of workers in the area this year is from 4.3 to 4.6 million VND/person/month.

Thus, compared to 2015, local businesses paid an increase of 12-15%. Of which, the highest salary paid by businesses was 60 million VND/person/month, the lowest was 2.4 million VND/person/month. The question that many workers are interested in is why did salaries increase but bonuses decrease?

Retaining employees

According to the Labor Law, salary is understood as wages paid to employees and is regulated in the Labor Law, while bonuses are decided by the employer.

Thus, although the State always encourages employers to have preferential treatment for employees, labor law does not require paying bonuses, so employers are not required to pay bonuses on holidays and Tet.

Employers have the right to proactively and voluntarily pay bonuses to employees based on the production and business results of the enterprise as well as the level of work completion of the employee. Only in cases where the employee and the company have an agreement in the labor contract or collective labor agreement on bonus payment but the company does not perform as committed, the employee has the right to request the enterprise to perform, or conduct legal procedures to resolve.

Production line at Haivina Kim Lien Company Limited. Photo: MH

Holding in his hand more than 7,000,000 VND of his 13th month salary, Mr. Thai Van Tan - a worker at Phi Diep Trading Company Ltd. happily shared: "I have been working at the company for more than 3 years, every year I receive this in advance to bring home to prepare for Tet, because I will be busy and cannot take time off in the next few days. Although it is not much, how much is enough, I still have to think about the company. Thanks to this amount, in recent years, my family has been able to buy more and celebrate Tet more properly."

Although she did not receive a big bonus like Mr. Tan, Ms. Chu Thi Thuy, a worker at Haivina Kim Lien Company Limited, although she had only been working at the company for more than 7 months, was also notified of a 13th month salary bonus (more than 2,700,000 VND) and Tet gifts of blankets and warm clothes. Although the amount was not much, Ms. Thuy was still satisfied because she understood that currently the garment industry is not doing well, so receiving a bonus is a joy.

Obviously, because the law does not stipulate, it is impossible to force businesses to give Tet bonuses to employees. However, on every holiday, especially Lunar New Year, no matter how little or much, businesses still have a bonus, usually equivalent to the 13th month salary, to motivate and encourage employees.

Mr. Nguyen Van Phi - Director of Phi Diep Trading Company Limited, a metal and metal ore business unit said: "To attract workers as well as hope that they will devote themselves to the business and retain skilled workers, in addition to paying decent salaries, we will set aside an amount to create a Tet bonus fund for workers, usually that amount is equal to their 13th month salary".

In nearly 20 days, workers across the country will have the Lunar New Year holiday of Dinh Dau 2017, the story of Tet bonuses is still receiving great attention. If businesses do not take action to retain workers with reasonable salaries and bonuses, especially Tet bonuses, it will be very difficult to retain skilled workers, affecting the trust of workers in the business.

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