No consideration for public sector salary increase and pension adjustment in 2025

On October 2, the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee held its 25th plenary session to review and give opinions on financial and budgetary issues submitted to the National Assembly at its 8th Session.

Presenting the preliminary review report, Deputy Chairwoman of the Finance and Budget Committee Vu Thi Luu Mai said that along with positive economic growth, the state budget revenue in 2024 is estimated to increase compared to the estimate assigned by the National Assembly.

Of which, some domestic revenues increased significantly; revenues from equitization and divestment of State capital in enterprises reached many times higher than the estimate; domestic tax debt increased compared to December 31, 2023. Up to now, there are still unallocated amounts of money for 18 ministries and 17 localities; disbursement progress for development investment expenditure is still slow...

Regarding some contents that the Government asked for opinions on, Ms. Vu Thi Luu Mai said that the Standing Committee of the Finance and Budget Committee also agreed with the Government's recommendations on allowing the use of remaining salary reform funds to invest in development investment projects in accordance with the provisions of law.

"The Standing Committee of the Finance and Budget Committee agrees with the recommendation that in 2025, there should not be further consideration of increasing public sector salaries, pensions, social insurance benefits, monthly allowances, and allowances for meritorious people. It is recommended to urgently complete the new salary regime according to Resolution 27 for unified implementation," the review report stated.

Regarding the State financial and budget plan for the 3 years 2025-2027, the Standing Committee of the Finance and Budget Committee proposed that the Government continue to carefully review the remaining revenue sources, improve the quality of forecasting work to strive to increase revenue in 2024 at the highest level as a basis for building a more positive State budget revenue estimate for 2025.

The audit agency also suggested that the Government learn from experience in recent years and that the 2025 budget should minimize unallocated expenditures from the beginning of the year and delayed allocation.

Regarding state budget revenue, the Standing Committee of the Finance and Budget Committee agreed with the recommendation that in 2025, policies that reduce state budget revenue should be minimized.

Presenting the Report on the implementation of the public investment plan in 2024 and the expected public investment plan in 2025, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong stated that, besides the achieved results, the implementation of the public investment plan in 2024 still has some limitations.

Accordingly, the specificity of public investment disbursement has not been resolved, which is the low disbursement rate in the first months of the year and a sharp increase in the last months of the year. The work of planning public investment from the State budget annually is still limited and not close to the implementation capacity.

"Difficulties and problems in completing project investment procedures have been focused on but have not been completely resolved. Local budget revenue has not been guaranteed to be allocated for development investment expenditure. There are still difficulties and problems in planning, allocating plans and implementing projects," said Mr. Tran Quoc Phuong.

Regarding the public investment plan for 2025, Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong said that in 2025, the Ministry of Planning and Investment will focus on key and focused investments, focusing on priority areas, ensuring a harmonious, reasonable and effective investment structure between regions, areas and fields, both increasing growth momentum and ensuring social security, national defense and security.

At the same time, strengthen discipline and order in public investment, strictly handle violations according to regulations; strictly control targets, improve capital use efficiency, ensure publicity, transparency and efficiency in public investment planning...

In 2025, the Ministry of Planning and Investment strives to disburse over 95% of the 2025 public investment plan from the State budget assigned by the Prime Minister.