General Luong Cuong, Politburo member, permanent member of the Central Military Commission, and Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army attended the event and delivered a keynote speech.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Luong Cuong grants the second-class Fatherland Defence Order to the Ministry of National Defence’s Social Insurance Agency.

General Luong Cuong sticks the second-class Fatherland Defence Order on the People’s Army of Vietnam’s flag

Addressing the ceremony, Director of the Ministry of National Defence’s Social Insurance Agency Senior Colonel Cao Xuan Thang said the agency was founded on May 29, 2008 following a decision by the then Minister of National Defence, giving the go-ahead for the implementation of social insurance and health insurance policies targeting objects under the management of the Ministry of National Defence in line with the Party guiding principles, lines, and State laws and policies.

Since October 26, 2022, the insurance agency has been operating under the management of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army; helping the General Department Politics’ leaders to advise the Central Military Commission, Ministry of National Defence to lead and direct social insurance and health insurance works within the Army.

General Luong Cuong presents the second-class Fatherland Defence Order to the Ministry of National Defence’s Social Insurance Agency

Over the past years, the Ministry of National Defence’s Social Insurance Agency has performed its functions and assigned tasks, prioritising the dissemination of social insurance and health insurance laws and policies to popularise the humane values and advantages of the Party and State’s social insurance and health insurance policies; contributing to raising the awareness of officials, soldiers and labourers in the army about the social insurance and health insurance policies.

The Social Insurance Agency has worked closely with competent bodies of the Ministry of National Defence and the General Department of Politics to direct and instruct units to ensure proper settlement of social insurance and health insurance policies. The Agency has also paid due attention to timely dealing with petitions and shortcomings in the implementation of the policies, which helps earn consensus among units in the Army.

Over the past 15 years, the Social Insurance Agency’s whole staff have well fulfilled their tasks, affirming the agency’s position and role in the Army’s social insurance and health insurance work. With such accomplishments, the Agency has received the Labour Medal, third class; the Fatherland Defence Order, second class and third class; and many other noble awards.

General Luong Cuong delivers a speech at the ceremony

Addressing the ceremony, General Luong Cuong commended and congratulated outstanding achievements which the Ministry of National Defence’s Social Insurance Agency has made over the past 15 years.

“Under the leadership and direction of the Central Military Commission, Ministry of National Defence and General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army; the professional instructions of the Vietnam Social Security; and the coordination and assistance of units inside and outside the army, the Ministry of National Defence’s Social Insurance Agency has united and stayed proactive and creative to overcome difficulties and strive to accomplish assigned tasks; affirming its position as a specialised unit in implementing social insurance and health insurance policies for the armed forces,” said General Luong Cuong.

Thoroughly understanding the Party’s viewpoints that “social insurance and health insurance are the two significant social policies and the key pillar of the country’s social welfare, contributing to socio-political stability and socio-economic development”, the Ministry of National Defence’s Social Insurance Agency has closely followed actual operations of the Army and its units; proactively putting forward advices and recommendations for the completion of legal grounds for the implementation of social insurance and health insurance in the Army. Concurrently, the agency has implemented social insurance and health insurance policies in line with the Party guiding principles, lines, and State laws and policies professionally and effectively, ensuring the satisfaction of the beneficiaries as top priority.

To fulfil its tasks in the coming time, the General called for the Ministry of National Defence’s Social Insurance Agency to continue thoroughly comprehending and effectively implementing the Party guiding principles, lines, and State laws and policies on social insurance and health insurance; focusing on developing the social welfare system in line with the 13th Party National Congress’ Resolution and Resolution of the 12th Party Central Committee’s seventh plenary session on renewal of social insurance policies, as well as the Law on Social Insurance, Law on Health Insurance and Government’s Decree. Of note, the social insurance agency should further grasp and tightly and effectively implement directives and plans of the Central Military Commission, and Ministry of National Defence on the management and implementation of social insurance and health insurance policies in the Army.

He said the Ministry of National Defence’s Social Insurance Agency should closely follow operations of the whole Army, enhance research quality to put forward proper advices and recommendations and effectively implement social insurance and health insurance policies in the Army in line with the Party guiding principles, lines, and State laws and policies, regarding the Army’s special military operations. The Agency should accelerate administrative reform and information technology application to modernise the social insurance and health insurance management system in the Army. It is imperative to strictly manage and use Social Insurance and Health Insurance Funds to stop any losses, wastes and negativities.

Director of the Ministry of National Defence’s Social Insurance Agency Senior Colonel Cao Xuan Thang takes the floor

He noted that the social insurance agency must closely follow professional directions and instructions of the Vietnam Social Security; proactively work with agencies and units inside and outside the Army to study and propose recommendations, and effectively implement social insurance and health insurance policies. The Agency should enhance management quality and increase inspections and examinations and propose strict punishment for any offences.

He said he believed that, with the pride, determination and high political responsibility, the whole staff of the Ministry of National Defence’s Social Insurance Agency will continue upholding outcomes achieved over the past 15 years to make further efforts to successfully realise assigned tasks./.