Speaking at the working session, VSS’ Deputy Director General Nguyen Duc Hoa welcomed Deputy Director General of the Lao Social Security Organization (LSSO) Bouahome Phommachane and the accompanying delegation to exchange experiences and share expertise in the field of social welfare with VSS. According to the Deputy Director General, this is a very meaningful activity, aiming to continue the series of cooperative activities between VSS and the LSSO implemented within the framework of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the two agencies for the period 2022 - 2025.

Deputy Director General Nguyen Duc Hoa emphasized that Vietnam and Laos are two neighboring countries with close ties, deeply rooted in each other throughout the history of nation-building and defense of both peoples. In the field of social welfare, VSS and the LSSO have also engaged in many close cooperative activities, especially the signing of Memoranda of Cooperation and Specific Action Programs for each phase, laying a legal foundation for further strengthening the amicable relationship, and working together to develop social welfare tasks, ensuring maximum benefits for the people and businesses of both countries.

Deputy Director General of the VSS Nguyen Duc Hoa delivers speech at the meeting

Further sharing with the delegation from the LSSO, Deputy Director General Nguyen Duc Hoa disclosed that recently, the Director General of VSS had issued Decision No. 216/QD-BHXH, which specifies the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Inspectorate of VSS. This event holds tremendous significance for the overall development and robustness of VSS in general, and specifically for the Inspectorate of VSS, affirming the role, position, and contribution of the VSS sector to the nation's social welfare cause. The visit and working session of the delegation from the Lao National Social Security Organization in the field of inspection and examination this time are highly meaningful, aiming to promptly update new information and regulations regarding the functions and tasks of specialized inspection work of VSS.

Speaking at the working session, Ms. Bouahome Phommachane, Deputy Director General of the LSSO, congratulated the excellent cooperation between VSS and the Lao National Social Security Organization. She expressed confidence that both sides will enhance and further promote comprehensive cooperation to improve the capacity to implement social welfare policies, ensuring quality and efficiency in serving the people and businesses of each country. The work program of the Lao National Social Security Organization delegation will focus on exchanging and sharing experiences in inspection work, examining the implementation of social security regimes and policies.

Deputy Director General of the Lao National Social Security Organization, Bouahome Phommachane, delivers a speech

At the working session, the representative of the Inspectorate of the LSSO delivered a presentation. They provided an overview of the organizational structure, functions, and tasks of the Inspectorate of the LSSO and outlined some activities related to social security inspection, including health insurance. From 2016 to 2023, the entire sector organized 115,791 inspections and examinations at 179,415 units. Through these inspections and examinations, nearly 570,000 workers were found to have not paid their contributions, or paid insufficiently or untimely. Recommendations were made to recover contributions amounting to 23.79 trillion dong for the social security fund. So far, the inspected and examined units have rectified the situation by contributing 18.785 trillion dong, which significantly contributed to reducing the rate of late payments for social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance in recent years.

The representative of the LSSO introduced the organizational structure of the agency and shared some experiences in specialized inspection work to ensure social welfare in Laos.

Also during the working session, Deputy Director General Nguyen Duc Hoa, along with leaders of some units under the VSS, exchanged and answered many questions from the LSSO delegation regarding various topics related to social security inspection, health insurance, and ensuring social welfare in both countries.

Overview of the meeting

In closing remark, the delegation from the LSSO expressed sincere gratitude to the VSS and conveyed their impression of the work in ensuring social welfare for the people and businesses. Deputy Director General of the LSSO, Bouahome Phommachane, expressed the desire for the two agencies to continue close cooperation in the field of social security inspection, specifically, and in ensuring social welfare in general. This collaboration aims to further enhance the strong development of the Vietnam-Laos relationship in the coming time./.