(Source: Viet Nam Social Security)

Administrative procedure reforms have always been identified as one of the key tasks of the Vietnam Social Security (VSS), receiving priority in resource allocation. In recent years, VSS has implemented solutions to reform administrative procedures.

VSS has invested in information technology (IT) and computerisation in managing social insurance (SI), health insurance (HI) and unemployment insurance (UI). VSS planned to apply IT in 2012-2015 to build its centralised database system, ready to link with the national population database.

VSS has diversified measures to receive and return settlement dossiers to maximise favourable conditions for employers and individuals when performing transactions with VSS, including: e-transactions, using postal services (free of charge for businesses) and directly at the one-stop shop.

VSS has also conducted e-transactions from contribution collections, issuance of books and cards to settlement and payment of benefits. This is a big breakthrough in computerisation helping reduce time, travel costs and waiting time for businesses. E-transactions help businesses be more active in submission, saves time and money in travelling, waiting, queuing and receiving results of settlement.

VSS has reviewed each procedure, component and criteria of application forms to minimise time and expense for employers and individuals during transactions with VSS. Based on the results of the review, by the end of 2016, administrative procedures in the sector fell from 263 to 32. In 2017, VSS has continued reviewing and simplifying administrative procedures under its management and eliminated four administrative procedures, reducing the total from 32 to 28.

VSS has controlled administrative procedures through the online electronic one-stop system. Through that, VSS monitors and supervises the settlement of dossiers and does not allow delays at social insurance agencies at all levels.

To maximise the effectiveness of administrative procedure reforms, in the past few years, VSS promoted the dissemination of information about on SI, HI and UI and diversified publicity and transparency on means of mass media and at the VSS offices for businesses and individuals involved in supervising the implementation of administrative procedures on SI, HI and UI. VSS has also coordinated with newspapers, radio and media agencies, to hold press conferences to provide information on SI, HI and UI-related administrative procedures reform.

VSS also launched the Contest of Initiatives for Administrative Procedures Reform and E-transactions application in the field of SI, HI and UI. The contest aimed not only to disseminate policies on social insurance, health insurance and administrative procedures reform, but also to encourage intellectuals to help reform administrative procedures in SI, HI and UI.

VSS has also promoted coordination and exchange of information by signing coordination regulations with other agencies and organisations, such as “The coordination regulations between VSS and the General Department of Taxation" to exchange information on tax payment and social insurance and enterprises. The VSS also coordinates regularly with experts from the World Bank, related ministries and agencies to study and evaluate proposals for improving business processes.

With efforts to implement a series of solutions, the VSS has successfully implemented administrative procedures reforms, and is considered by the Government as an active agency in administrative procedure reforms. The attitude of VSS staff in the whole system has been praised by employers and individuals.

International Cooperation Department