Private Kindergarten Teachers Resign En Masse Over Low Wages in Vietnam

Over 50 teachers at Nguyen Du Plus International Kindergarten in Ha Tinh, Vietnam, have unexpectedly resigned due to salary disputes, leaving parents in a difficult situation. The incident occurred on the morning of August 1st at the school's facility on Le Van Thiem Street, Thanh Sen Ward. Among them, more than 40 teachers submitted termination contracts, while about 10 others did not submit their resignations but also stopped teaching. Many parents have had to rely on relatives to look after their children. Some expressed concern and indicated they would consider transferring their children to other schools if the situation persists. According to the teachers, their take-home pay after deductions for social insurance and other contributions is approximately 5.7 million VND per month, which they claim is insufficient to cover living expenses. They submitted their resignations hoping the school would adjust salaries for the new academic year. Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Hảo, Director of Tam Sinh Loc JSC, the owner of the school, confirmed that 52 out of 69 teachers did not report for work. She acknowledged the suddenness of the event, which has disrupted the school's teaching operations. Ms. Hảo stated that teachers receive salaries ranging from 6.3 to over 9 million VND per month, averaging around 6.9 million VND, depending on their seniority. During a meeting on the afternoon of August 1st, the company maintained its existing salary structure and refused to increase wages. Twenty-four individuals who had previously submitted termination contracts, along with some others, ultimately decided to return to work from the beginning of the following week. Previously, the school held two dialogues with teachers regarding contracts and salaries. The school had planned to increase salaries by a minimum of 500,000 VND per month starting August 1st, but the collective of teachers proposed an increase of at least 1 million VND. The school representative explained that salary payments must be balanced against the previous year's profits. As current revenue is only at a 'holding steady' level, the current salary, excluding breakfast and lunch, is considered appropriate. The school plans to redeploy teachers from other facilities or have management personnel (principals, vice-principals) participate in teaching if there is a shortage of staff. 'If we could afford to increase salaries, we would have done so immediately, without waiting for the employees to petition,' Ms. Hảo said. Nguyen Du Plus International Kindergarten was established in 2018 and operates three facilities with a total of 111 staff members, including 69 teachers. In the previous academic year, the school enrolled approximately 650 children aged 15 months to 6 years, with around 400 children attending during the summer period. The monthly cost per student is approximately 4.6 million VND, which includes tuition fees (3.4 million VND), meals, and other expenses. Additionally, parents pay extra for transportation services and extracurricular activities. Surveys indicate that in Ha Tinh province, teachers and staff at private schools commonly receive salaries ranging from 5 to 10 million VND per month.