Two electric technicians are installing a power line

The results of the inspection will be publicly announced, she said.

She also emphasized that companies operating at a loss, like EVN, should not be able to pay high salaries or bonuses to their staff. 

According to a report by the State Audit Agency, there are three average rates of salary at EVN - VND7.9 million per month for the electricity distribution sections; VND10.8 million for the power transmission units; and VND13.7 million, the highest, for staff working at the holding company.

The office staff at the holding company had an average income of about VND30 million per month, which was as twice as high as the overall average rate of the company.

Meanwhile, the average salary of an employee in State-owned enterprises last year was just VND3.8 million per month and that of a worker in textiles and garment companies was even lower, at VND2.1-2.3 million per month, Thanh Nien newspaper reported.

According to the General Statistics Office, the income per capita in Vietnam last year is US$1,168, or VND24.53 million, which means VND2.04 million per month. 

Earlier, EVN general director Pham Le Thanh told the National Assembly in a meeting that “the average income for an employee at EVN is VND7.3 million per month, which is not enough for a normal person to live in an urban area.”

Another EVN official told the press that the payroll of EVN, as well as of other groups, must be approved by the MOLISA before it can be applied. He also said that the group has paid salary in accordance with the rates approved by the ministry.

For example, in 2009 the ministry approved EVN’s salary rate of VND5,720 per 1,000 kWh sold, he said.

Regarding the salary of EVN’s council of members and general director – seven people in total – the ministry also agreed to the 2009 salary fund of VND3.09 billion ($147,000) for them, and through such a fund, the general director and each member was paid VND36.7 million per month, the official said.

In 2010, the approved salary fund was 3.1 billion, and each executive received VND37 million per month, he said.

Bonuses for the council of members and the general director are also paid in accordance with relevant regulations, and must be reported to and supervised by the MOLISA and the Finance Ministry, he added.