He was speaking at a VSS online regular briefing on December 3 to review the sector’s performance in the first 11 months of this year.

The conference was attended by deputy chair commissioner of VSS Board of Commissioners Nguyen Van Cuong, VSS deputy general directors Tran Dinh Lieu, Nguyen Duc Hoa, Chu Manh Sinh, among other leaders of VSS and relevant units.

 VSS general director Nguyen The Manh chairs the conference

According to the chief of VSS Administration Office, in the first 11 months of this year, the number of people participating in social insurance neared 19.7 million, up 11.2 per cent from the same period last year.

Among those, over 17.5 million are compulsory social insurance participants, up 8.5 per cent year on year while 2.17 million others join the scheme voluntarily, up 39.5 per cent year on year.

Also during the January-November period, the number of people covered by unemployment insurance reached nearly 15.8 million, up 9.7 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, approximately 94.6 million enrolled in health insurance, representing a 2.9 percent annual increase.

Delegates at the briefing room in Hanoi

Leaders of VSS units delivered reports on the task performance in the first 11 months of this year and instructed local social security offices to focus on specific tasks in the remaining time of the year.

VSS general director Nguyen The Manh highlighted six key achievements in the context of intertwined challenges.

First, the VSS has been active in coordinating with other units to make amendments to draft laws on social insurance and health insurance. The draft laws were submitted to the 15th National Assembly for approval during its seventh and eighth sessions after reaching a high level of consensus across relevant ministries, sectors, and units.

Second, all indicators reported upward trends compared to the same period in 2023, including breakthroughs on the number of people engaging in voluntary social insurance and health insurance. The goals for collecting and lowering late payments for health, unemployment, and social insurance have been reached.

Third, the sector has managed and optimised the use of funds, prevented abuse and profiteering, and ensured the rights of participants in social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance.

Fourth, the VSS has accelerated digital transformation through the Government’s Project 06 (a Project to Apply Population, Identification and Electronic Authentication Data to National Digital Transformation), offering participants and policy beneficiaries a number of advantages.

Fifth, voters and National Assembly deputies have been informed on the sector's operations and policy-making developments. The fact that fewer people are requesting lump-sum social insurance indicates that the communication efforts were successful and that the public's confidence in the new rules has grown.

Sixth, the entire sector has maintained discipline and order, promoting the tradition of solidarity.

VSS general director Nguyen The Manh delivers a closing remark at the briefing

Manh proposed eight solutions for the VSS to accomplish, even exceed the assigned targets in December.

First, the VSS must closely adhere to the policies, guidelines, orientations and directions of the Party, the National Assembly, Government and the sector’s leader in implementing targets and tasks.

Second, units must review unfinished targets, tasks and make a commitment to complete them, especially the main and important targets.

Third, Manh called on VSS units to come up with innovative ways increase the number of people enrolled in compulsory social insurance and health insurance, especially health insurance for students and pupils because this segment still has potential rooms.

Heads of units must coordinate with steering committees at all levels, local authorities to examine tax collection and tax data.

Fourth, he urged the sector to fully ensure the rights of insurance participants with the fastest and most reformed procedures.

Fifth, he called for the strict management on related funds, prevent profiteering, ensure safety and efficiency.

Sixth, VSS units must strengthen dissemination on the sector’s outstanding performances and efforts to support people in using utilities and public services, towards the 30th anniversary of the VSS establishment.

Seventh, Manh asked VSS units to closely adhere to the apparatus streamline plan in light of Resolution No 18-NQ/TW and collect feedback on the sector’s new organisational apparatus model in the coming time.

Eighth, he emphasised the responsibilities of unit leaders in accomplishing the assigned tasks.

Deputy chair commissioner of VSS Board of Commissioners Nguyen Van Cuong suggested that serving the Resolution 18-NQ/TW’s implementation review, the VSS needs to immediately review the revenue and expenditure plan for the period 2025 - 27 period to ensure that it aligns with the plan for apparatus restructuring./.