Proposal to increase benefits for discharged soldiers

The draft circular regulating the adjustment of monthly allowances for soldiers and people working in the intelligence service who receive salaries similar to those of demobilized, discharged, or retired soldiers is being consulted by the Ministry of National Defense.

The provisions of the circular will apply to demobilized and discharged soldiers who are receiving monthly allowances according to the regime for soldiers who participated in the resistance war against the US to save the country with less than 20 years of service in the army; soldiers and people working in secret service who receive salaries like demobilized, discharged, or retired soldiers who are receiving allowances according to the policy for those who participated in the war to protect the Fatherland, performed international missions in Cambodia, and helped Laos after April 30, 1975.

The Ministry of National Defense wishes to increase the allowance from July 2024, calculated by the formula of June 2024 benefit multiplied by 1.15. The specific benefit levels are as follows:

The cost of implementing monthly allowance adjustments is paid by the State budget. The Ministry of Finance ensures the cost at the request of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to authorize the Departments of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of provinces and cities to pay.

Previously, the National Assembly agreed to increase the basic salary by 30% from 1.8 to 2.34 million VND per month for officials, civil servants and public employees from July 1; and increase the current pension and social insurance benefits by 15%.

For those who were receiving pensions before 1995, after adjustment, if the benefit level is lower than 3.2 million VND/month, it will be increased by 300,000 VND/month. Those who receive from 3.2 to less than 3.5 million VND/month will be adjusted to 3.5 million VND/month.

The preferential allowance for meritorious people will increase by 35.7% from VND2,055 million to VND2,789 million/month. The Ministry of Home Affairs explained that this adjustment is similar to 2023 when the preferential allowance for meritorious people is 5.7% higher than the basic salary increase.

For the military, those holding the rank of general from July 1 will receive the highest salary of 24.3 million VND, 5.6 million VND higher than their current salary. Major generals, lieutenant generals, and senior generals will receive new salaries of 21.1 - 21.5 - 22.9 million VND respectively. Level 1 type C defense workers will receive the lowest salary, at 6.3 million VND.

In addition to their monthly salaries, People's Army officers also receive seniority allowances (calculated based on their current salaries and time in active service) plus public service allowances and leadership position allowances. The military allowance is calculated by multiplying the allowance coefficient by 2.34, instead of 1.8 as before July 1.