Reporter: During the last years, which social insurance (SI), health insurance (HI) policies have been carried out by Viet Nam Social Security (VSS) for foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises and their employees? How does the Deputy Director General evaluate the supports of VSS for FDI enterprises and their employees?

Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh: Over the years, the FDI sector has grown rapidly, becoming one of the most dynamic economic sectors of Viet Nam. According to 2022 statistics, over 23,000 FDI enterprises participate in SI, HI and unemployment insurance (UI) schemes, accounting for approximately 5.5% of the total number of enterprises participating in SI, HI and UI; over 4.7 million FDI employees participate in SI, HI and UI, equivalent to over 40% of the total number of workers of the business sector participate in SI, HI and UI schemes.

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Therefore, it is very important to ensure social security in general, and to implement SI and HI policies for this sector in particular, which contributes to the improvement of quality of workers' lives and at the same time, promotes the connection between businesses and employees. VSS has also proactively proposed solutions to effectively implement SI and HI policies.

In order to support the FDI enterprises and their employees, VSS has been focusing on improving the business environment, enhancing competitiveness to maximize favorable conditions for individuals, organizations and enterprises when carrying out transactions with the VSS. Provincial VSS offices regularly review and propose simplify administrative procedures according to their competence; information, documents, forms and administrative procedures are transparent and public; strengthen the supports and guidance for the employers in applying e-transactions with the VSS; strengthen the public education for individuals and organizations in performing public SI and HI services; providing guidelines and instructions for everyone to register and install social security application (VssID); stepping up the application of information technology; implementing of digital transformation comprehensively; implementing bilateral e-payments with commercial banks; providing public education programs, promoting and encouraging SI, HI and UI beneficiaries to collect their benefits through non-cash payment methods.

VSS also held Dialogues and Conferences with FDI enterprises on the implementation of SI and HI policies to provide, exchange information and answer to questions raised by participants. At the same time, these events aimed to  improve awareness on SI and HI policies that create consensus and cohesion of FDI enterprises in implementing SI, HI and UI policies.

In 2022, when the COVID-19 Epidemic was under control, businesses gradually recovers and return to normal activities. The number of enterprises suspending operations and dissolving tends to decrease, jobs started to increase again, so the number of employees choosing to receive one-time lump-sum SI payments tends to decrease. In general, provincial VSS offices have fully and promptly applying policies on SI and UI for FDI enterprises in accordance with the regulations.

Reporter: According to the Deputy Director General, what are the breakthroughs that bring the most benefits to FDI enterprises and their employees?

Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh:  In my opinion, the breakthrough that brings the most benefits to enterprises and employees in general and FDI enterprises in particular is the digital transformation and the implementation of online public services of the VSS.

VSS has completed providing level 4 public services for all administrative procedures (including 25 Administrative Procedures). This has enabled organizations and individuals to deal with VSS directly on the Public Service Portal of the VSS, the National Public Service Portal, or through 14 I-VAN organizations.

Regarding the procedure for settlement of SI benefits, VSS has implemented bilingual administrative procedure forms suitable for foreign employees and employers to declare dossiers and claim social insurance benefits.

At the same time, VSS has actively cooperated with relevant governmental ministries and departments to carry out assigned tasks to build the National Database on Social Security, serve the state management, handle administrative procedures and handle online public administrative services. This is considered the foundation for digital transformation for Viet Nam Government.

VSS has also successfully connected with the National Database on Population at the very time when this database was officially put into operation. By the end of September 2022, VSS Administration system has verified more than 51 million demographic information contained in the National Database on Social Security with the National Population Database.

Furthermore, VSS continues to improve and add useful features on the VSSID app (digital Social Security application).

Clearly, at present, all VSS administrative procedures are carried out in the digital flatform. It is convenient, timely and cost saving for individuals and organizations when participating and enjoying SI and HI schemes and benefits. The inclusion of digital flatform also helps businesses and employees easily track the progress of dossier processing, review and compare contribution records, issue social insurance books, health insurance cards, settle social security benefits and increase information transparency. Those initial positive results show that VSS digital transformation process is on the right track, contributing to the improvement of customer care for SI, HI participants.

Reporter: What do you expect in in the coming time which social security measures VSS would implement to support FDI enterprises and their employees?

Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh:  In the coming time, VSS will continue to coordinate with relevant ministries and departments (Ministry of Labor Invalid and Social Affairs, Viet Nam General Confederation of Labor, General Department of Taxation...) to issue guiding documents for businesses operating in Viet Nam, especially FDI enterprises, to strictly comply with the provisions of the Law on Labor, salary, tax and social insurance. Public education on SI, HI policies to enterprises and employees would be strengthened and delivered in various forms. At the same time, VSS will continue to actively direct and guide provincial VSS offices to host Conferences and Dialogues with businesses (including FDI enterprises) to gather labor situation of enterprises, to disseminate new policies, to solve difficulties in the implementation for both enterprises and VSS. All those to ensure the best SI and HI benefits for employees in general as well as foreign employees working in Viet Nam in particular.

In addition, by following the Government direction, understanding the National Digital Transformation orientation and strategy, and exploring the digital transformation trends taking place globally, VSS has always maintained its determination in investing and developing its IT system that e-Government oriented and towards Digital Government; nationally integrated and centralized, modernized according to the international standard; highly automated business processes that operated by high-quality IT technicians; meet the demand for ensuring national social security and providing comprehensively SI, HI and UI services to the people and businesses.

Reporter: Thank you very much!