Civil servants and public employees worry that their salaries haven't increased yet, but prices have already risen ahead.

There's little to celebrate, but much to worry about.

Mr. Le Van Son, a civil servant in Hanoi, said that with his current income of about 15 million VND per month, if his salary is adjusted, he could receive an increase of more than 1 million VND per month.

"It sounds good, but honestly, I still don't know whether to be happy or worried," he shared.

According to Mr. Son, the reason is that the cost of living had already started to rise even before the policy took effect. In just the past few weeks, the increase in gasoline prices has led to a surge in a series of other expenses. From breakfast, a bowl of pho increasing by 5,000 or 10,000 dong, to vegetables, food, transportation costs... everything has increased in price.

"Adding it all up, the additional expenses might even exceed the salary increase," said Mr. Son.

Sharing the same sentiment, Ms. Le Thi Nga, an employee at a hospital in Hanoi, also stated that while the approximately 8% salary increase provides her with nearly 1 million VND more per month, it is difficult to offset the rapid increase in expenses.

"The increase in gasoline prices has led to increases in everything else. From food and transportation costs to living expenses, everything has gone up. I feel like the increase in my salary hasn't even reached me yet, and it's already being 'eroded' by rising prices," said Ms. Nga.

Adjusting pensions and benefits is necessary to improve living standards, especially for low-income groups and vulnerable individuals. However, reality shows that the challenge lies not only in the level of increase but also in the ability to control prices and shorten the policy "lag." If prices continue to "run ahead," the effectiveness of income increases will be difficult to achieve as expected.

What can be done to prevent the salary increase from being "eroded"?

For wage increase policies to be effective, experts believe they need to be accompanied by more drastic market control measures.

First and foremost, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring of price declarations and listings, especially in sensitive areas such as transportation, food, and essential services. Cases of exploiting fluctuations in input costs to unreasonably increase prices must be dealt with severely.

In addition, it is necessary to improve price regulation tools, especially for essential goods. In the context of a volatile market, the flexible use of price stabilization funds and adjustments to taxes and fees can help to "cool down" prices.

Another issue of concern for many workers is whether the wage increase will be sufficient to cover the cost of living.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thuong Lang, an economic expert, believes that, in principle, adjusting wages according to inflation would help preserve real income. However, market developments are often more complex than the set targets.

"Inflation is the target of policy, but real prices often rise faster. If incomes increase more slowly than prices, people's purchasing power will still decline," he analyzed.

According to him, when the prices of essential goods such as gasoline and food increase, monthly expenses will rise significantly. If wage increases do not keep pace, workers will essentially remain "poorer".

In addition, experts emphasize that the issue of wages cannot be separated from the problem of macroeconomic management, especially inflation control.

For people to truly benefit from wage increases, it is first necessary to maintain macroeconomic stability and control inflation at a reasonable level. This is a key factor in protecting the real value of income.

At the same time, according to experts, it is necessary to promote competition, expand production, and increase the supply of goods to reduce upward pressure on prices. When the market has abundant supply, the likelihood of price increases will decrease. Price stabilization programs, promotions, and consumer stimulus measures should also be strengthened, especially for essential goods.

"If we implement these solutions effectively, we can achieve a dual objective: increasing wages while maintaining price stability. Then, n"The people are the ones who truly benefit," Mr. Lang remarked.

In the current context, a wage increase is necessary, but for the joy to be complete, it is equally important to keep prices from rising ahead. Only then will the extra money truly have meaning in the lives of those who receive it.