The localities include An Giang, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Bac Lieu, Ben Tre, Da Nang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Hau Giang, Hung Yen, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Phu Yen, Quang Ngai, Son La and Thưa Thien-Hue.

Photo: Viet Nam Social Security’s Deputy General Director Tran Dinh Lieu delivers his speech at the event

Speaking at the event, Viet Nam Social Security’s Deputy General Director Tran Dinh Lieu said that people who do not participate in social and health insurance system have no pension, allowance or health insurance cards. They have faced many difficulties, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lieu also said that giving social insurance books and health insurance cards to underprivileged people is expected to help them to access policies of social and health insurance of the Party and the State.

It is believed to be a practical and meaningful activity while the pandemic has had a strong impact on people’s lives around the country, he said.

The traditional spirit of “The whole leaf covers the torn ones” is also expected to be spread through the event, he added.

Lieu said the pandemic had badly affected the country’s social-economic development as well as people’s lives last year.

Therefore, the Party and the State have issued many resolutions and decisions to support both people and businesses to overcome difficulties triggered by the pandemic. Under the resolutions and decisions, there are many packages to support labourers and businesses from the unemployment insurance fund, he said.

“It proves the important and pivotal role of social and health insurance policies in the social security system,” he said.

Also at the event, Lieu sent his thanks to the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) for contributing a total budget of VND17.2 billion (US$751,000) in the first quarter of this year to Viet Nam Social Security to give social insurance books and health insurance cards to underprivileged people.

Moreover, Vietcombank, which has accompanied Viet Nam Social Security, has made many contributions to social security activities, he said.

Photo: An overview of the online event

Hong Quang, Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of Vietcombank's Trade Union, said Vietcombank's goal is to become a green bank with sustainable development.

Thus, Vietcombank's social security activities have been continuously promoted over recent years, he said.

Quang said giving social insurance books and health insurance cards is a meaningful activity while the pandemic has shown complex developments and people have faced many difficulties so they could not participate in social and health insurance.

The activity will mobilise society to help support disadvantaged people in the country, he said.

Quang said because of the pandemic, many poor people have no jobs and no income. They could not access medical services even though they are sick.

Therefore, health insurance cards and social insurance books are believed to be a life jacket for them. It will bring them a pension when they are old and medical services when they are sick, he said.

Vietcombank has a desire to multiply the humane and noble values of the social and health insurance policies, he said.

The bank wishes to continue accompanying Vietnam Social Security in deploying activities for the community, contributing to the implementation of social and health insurance policies towards the goal of increasing participation in social and health insurance in the future, he said.

Lieu suggested that in addition to Vietcombank's support, Viet Nam Social Security’s branches in provinces and cities need to coordinate with organisations and businesses to give more social insurance books and health insurance cards to people, especially the disadvantaged, in the future.

In a related move, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2022, Viet Nam Social Security’s officers and staff contributed over VND5.9 billion (US$258,000) to give 487 social insurance books and 10,180 health insurance cards to underprivileged people across the country./.