This directive was given during the launch ceremony for the Viet Nam Social Security Inspectorate, which was chaired by Manh on March 1 in Ha Noi.

At the ceremony, Manh emphasiSed the primary objective of the inspectorate agency: to establish a robust and proficient unit comprising dedicated officers and staff members who possess strong political determination, professional acumen, and a commitment to successfully fulfill all assigned tasks. This aligns with the guiding principles of late President Ho Chi Minh, who stressed “the importance of inspection officers striving to continuously enhance their knowledge, embrace positive values, eschew negative influences, uphold revolutionary ethics, and elevate their professional standards. This collective effort is essential in paving the way for a bright and honourable future, earning the confidence and trust of the Party and the Government.

 VSS Director General Nguyen The Manh delivers his speech at a launching ceremony for the Viet Nam Social Security Inspectorate on March 1 in Ha Noi

The second major task involved strengthening and innovating activities to prepare for specialised inspection tasks related to social, unemployment, and health insurance contributions. This included inspecting the implementation of relevant policies for units within and outside the insurance sector, addressing complaints and denunciations, and preventing and combating corruption and negative practices. Additionally, it required promptly detecting and addressing violations to enhance the effectiveness of management in line with the principle that "Inspection is a tool in management activities."

Simultaneously, it was essential to clearly establish the role of the inspectorate agency as an advisory unit, aiding the Director General of Viet Nam Social Security in overseeing the inspection of social insurance in provinces and cities. The objective was to enhance the efficiency of inspections and assist VSS in accomplishing all political tasks.

Achieving this goal required the inspectorate agency to work in collaboration with the Social Security Offices in provinces and cities, necessitating their cooperation and combined efforts.

The heads of the Social Security Offices in provinces and cities were instructed to take direct responsibility for the inspection work. This is to ensure that the inspection work in each province and city plays a crucial role in the development of the inspection system, particularly within the social security sector.

Manh also urged units under the Government Inspectorate, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health, and the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Finance to continue giving attention, creating favorable conditions, and coordinating with the inspectorate agency of Viet Nam Social Security. This is to assist the agency in successfully fulfilling its assigned tasks.

New start for new journey

 VSS Director General Nguyen The Manh hands over decisions to Viet Nam Social Security Inspectorate’s officers

On behalf of the Party Committee and the leaders of VSS, Manh sent his most respectful thanks to the National Assembly, the Government, the ministries and sectors for always paying attention, supporting and creating conditions for VSS throughout its operation and development in general as well as in the establishment of the inspectorate agency in particular.

“Today's ceremony is the beginning of a new development journey,” he said.

After the ceremony, the Viet Nam Social Security Inspectorate was not only an advisory and assisting unit for the VSS General Director but also an official member of the country’s inspectorate sector.

It was an honour and also a great responsibility for the inspectorate agency, he added.

He said that on January 11, 2024, the Government issued Decree No 03/2024/ND-CP regulating agencies performing specialised inspection functions and activities of the agencies assigned to perform specialised inspection functions.

Accordingly, from March 1, 2024, Viet Nam Social Security enables to establish its own inspectorate agency.

“It has become an important day for the development of Viet Nam Social Security and it is especially important for the inspection team of Viet Nam Social Security,” he said.

The establishment of an inspection agency of VSS was the recognition of the National Assembly and the Government for the role, position and contribution of the VSS to the cause of social security of the country over the past 29 years.

To achieve the results, VSS in general and its 597-people team of inspectors in particular, had made a lot of efforts to effectively implement the assigned tasks given by the National Assembly and the Government, and proactively making proposals to competent agencies in the process of building the Law on Inspection and guiding documents for implementation.

Chief inspector of VSS Inspectorate Bui Quang Huy delivers his speech at the ceremony

Also at the ceremony, participants together looked back and evaluated the establishment and development process of VSS’s inspection activities over the past 29 years under different names, from the Inspection – Legislation Board, to the Inspection Committee, then the Inspectorate Department and now the Viet Nam Social Security Inspectorate.

VSS was assigned the function of specialised inspection since 2016. The social insurance sector’s inspection work has had many positive changes since then.

During the period of 2016-23, the sector conducted 115,791 inspections, discovered and collected arrears of social insurance payments for nearly 570,000 employees.

It also consulted for issuing 5,171 decisions on sanctioning administrative violations in the fields of social, unemployment and health insurance with a total fine of nearly VND229 billion (US$9.25 million).

It had made proposals to collect an amount of VND23.79 trillion ($961.4 million) to the social, unemployment and health funds. So far, about VND18.785 trillion ($760 million) were sent to the funds, greatly contributing to reducing the rate of late payment of social, health and unemployment insurance over the past time.

Manh said that the National Assembly and the Government assigned the specialised inspection function to the Viet Nam Social Security Inspectorate and allowed the establishment of the agency was believed to be a right policy, consistent with the actual situation.