On October 21, the National Assembly held group discussions on the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Social Insurance, along with several other legislative proposals. Participating in the discussions within Group 13 were National Assembly deputies from the delegations of Thanh Hoa and Gia Lai provinces, including Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Hong Dien.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Hong Dien expressed general agreement on the necessity of amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Social Insurance. He also acknowledged that the Government has earnestly addressed and provided explanations for various points raised by the National Assembly Standing Committee and the reviewing body—particularly regarding the expansion of SI coverage, the investment of the SI Fund, and the refinement of management and implementation mechanisms.

However, given that SI serves as a cornerstone of the social security system, directly impacting the long-term rights of workers and the financial stability of the SI Fund, any amendments must ensure stability, coherence, and feasibility, while also accounting for future predictability during implementation.

Regarding the expansion of mandatory SI coverage, the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly expressed agreement with this policy, particularly concerning individuals without a formal employment relationship and those working on digital platforms. However, terms such as "stable, regular income" require further clarification. Additionally, it is essential to clarify the criteria for identifying these individuals, the responsibility for making contributions, and the basis and methods for such contributions—especially for those with fluctuating incomes or those engaged across multiple platforms. The law should establish core principles, clear criteria, and an appropriate implementation roadmap, ensuring feasibility in management and execution while minimizing potential disputes and compliance costs.

Regarding the investment of the SI Fund, the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly emphasized the need to balance safety requirements with the enhancement of investment returns, while assessing risks based on the financial quality, management capacity, and liquidity of the banks involved. He concurred with the proposal to expand the range of banks eligible to hold the Fund’s deposits. At the same time, he suggested clearly defining deposit limits and capital concentration, principles for risk diversification, and mechanisms for oversight and intervention in cases where a bank no longer meets safety requirements. Furthermore, the respective responsibilities of the Social Security Governing Body and the social security agency – regarding investment decision-making, implementation, and monitoring – also need to be clarified.

Regarding supplementary pension insurance, the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly concurs with the orientation toward developing a multi-tiered social security system, but suggests carefully considering the proposal to allow the formation of funds based solely on contributions from employees. In his view, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive assessment of policy implementation effectiveness, mechanisms for protecting the rights of participants, fund management, risk control, and tax incentives. If there is insufficient practical evidence or inadequate conditions for management and oversight, consideration should be given to maintaining the existing regulations and conducting further evaluations before considering any comprehensive amendments.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized the need to refine the draft Law by clearly and strictly defining issues that directly affect the rights and obligations of participants as well as the security of the SI  Fund, thereby guaranteeing that the policy is implemented effectively and remains aligned with practical realities.