Wage hikes in Hanoi signal recovery  Higher monthly wages at many companies in Hanoi, especially in the FDI sector, signal continuing economic recovery in the capital. The Hanoi Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, which surveyed some 570 enterprises, found highest monthly wage at FDI companies of VND60m (USD2,800), with the average wage in 2014 at VND4.4m a month, an increase by 1.0 percent on a year earlier. State-owned corporations were in second place with highest monthly wage of VND37m, with an average wage of VND4.7m. In third place, was the private sector with a highest monthly wage of VND35m and an average monthly wage of VND4.3m, up 5.1 on a year earlier. Lastly, state-owned one-member limited liability companies had a highest monthly wage of VND27m and an average monthly wage of VND4.4m, up 1.6 percent. Pham Van Thanh, manger of the Department of Labour, Employment Policy under the city's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said the statistics were drawn from enterprise reports. The monthly wages at some enterprises, which did not provide reports, could be even higher and more optimistic. The reported numbers also showed positive changes in Hanoi in the past year, despite some outstanding difficulties such as unpaid wages. "The restructuring process has helped enterprises overcome challenges," Thanh said. "Overall, average wages in 2014 increased by 2.5 percent compared with 2013, so it looks like employees' Tet bonuses should also increase by 5.5 percent."      By Hoang Manh, dtinews.vn