Wife, a Doctor, Earns Less Than $600/Month, Raising Concerns Over Public University Staff Compensation

A female academic holding a doctorate at a public university in Vietnam is reportedly struggling with a monthly income below 15 million VND (approximately $600 USD), contemplating a career change despite her decade-long dedication to the institution. While she cherishes her alma mater, the significant disparity between her earnings and that of the university president has become a major source of demotivation for her and many other faculty members. This issue has surfaced as universities transition to a self-financing operational model. Initially, there was an expectation that this shift would lead to improved compensation for staff. However, years later, the situation remains largely unchanged for many, and the disclosure of the president's high income has fueled a sense of unfairness among the academic community. The author of the article points out that this income gap is not merely a financial issue but touches upon the core of whether contributions are being fairly recognized within the organization. In recent years, the university has seen an increase in staff resigning or seeking transfers to other departments. Some cases reportedly involve staff being encouraged to submit voluntary resignations rather than facilitating transfers. The author acknowledges the need for strong leadership in a university's development and understands that top executives may command higher salaries. However, the question remains: within the new self-financing compensation framework, what level of income disparity is considered acceptable to maintain a sense of fairness, and how can staff feel that their efforts are valued, thus encouraging continued dedication? Source: VnExpress