Social Security 2026: To modernize system, expand coverage and ensure sustainable human resource
29/01/2026 08:25 AM
The Government issued Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP on Jan 8th 2026 on task, solution for deploying the 2026 Plan on developing socio- economy and state budget estimate. Social security is considered as center of growth strategy.
Toward modernizing management on data, stably expanding social insurance (SI), health insurance (HI) and proactively ensuring stable finance source, the Resolution shows the determination on building inclusive social security, adjusting to
The Resolution demonstrates a strong determination to build an inclusive social security system toward fast and sustainable development and all people benefit from results.
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A major highlight in deploying social policy in 2026 is the strong shift from manual to modern administration, data-driven management. The Resolution calls for comprehensive reforms to improve the quality of social policies in a modern, inclusive and sustainable manner. Social security identification’ number is deployed for citizen; and the completion of databases on social policy. Social assistance programs and projects are synchronously implemented.
Besides, benefit payment methods are reformed. The Government directed that payment for people with meritorious services to the revolution treatment and social assistance be made through “cashless” method and experienced service provider. The service network is expected to cover 100% of communes and wards, suit to beneficiary’s characteristics and local conditions. This approach reflects flexible direction: promoting electronic payment with practical solutions, ensuring accessibility in remote and disadvantaged areas.
It is emphasized to focus on deploying Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW on SI policy reform. The Government’s objective is to gradually and sustainably expand coverage and develop a multi-tier social insurance system to ensure sustainable social security. Specific targets have been set for 2026, including a social insurance participation rate of 48.1% of the working-age labour force and an unemployment insurance participation rate of 37.07%.
To achieve these targets, regulations on wages, SI and labour relations will be continuously finalized. Notably, SI policy in 2026 will be closely associated with wage reform. The Government pledged to effectively implement the Politburo’s conclusion on wage reform and allowance policies for civil servant and the armed forces. Besides, wage reform not only improves living standards for public workers but also seen as a leverage for increasing contribution and benefit premium, strengthening income security for retirement.
The Government also sets out the goal of accelerating labour restructuring and supporting the rapid transition from informal to formal employment. The radical solution aims to increase formal participation in social security system.
HI policy is being deployed toward universal health insurance to protect all citizens from financial risks on diseases. Targets for 2026 include health insurance coverage of 95.5% of the population in which 96% of the elderly receiving HI card. The further reform of the operational and financial mechanisms of public service units. Management cost is included in healthcare service premium in line with the universal HI road-map. Besides, the Government has been tasked with developing policies to exempt medical cost for policy beneficiaries, the poor and vulnerable groups. The Resolution also promotes IT application in healthcare including health management, electronic health record, and tele-medicine, to help people access services more quickly and conveniently at locality.
To realize these social security goals, the Government carefully calculate resource in the 2026 state budget estimate plan. The Resolution requires an additional 10% to be cut in recurrent expenditure (beside wage reform) to increase social security fund. This move highlights the Government’s strong political commitment to prioritizing people-central development.
Besides, poverty reduction policies are being implemented more sustainably. The Government advocates introducing conditional support policies and strengthening social policy credit for the poor, thereby encouraging self-reliance and proactive efforts to escape poverty.
VSS
Sickness
Work Injury and Occupational Disease
Survivor’s
Old-age
Maternity
Unemployment
Medical (Health Insurance)
Certificate of coverage
VSS - ISSA Guidelines on Social Security