Specifically, according to the report delivered by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, 24 out of 26 targets set by the resolution had been met. Of which, eight targets were fulfilled two years ahead of schedule and 16 targets were achieved in 2020. At present, among the 9.2 million contributors to the national cause across the country, over 1.3 million were entitled to enjoy monthly allowances. Up to 99.5 per cent of households of the contributors enjoyed living standards equal to or above the average of local residents.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivers a speech at the meeting 

Social security recorded breakthrough development, accounting for 32 per cent of the labour force. Last year, nearly 300,000 workers joined voluntary social insurance schemes, bringing the total to around 574,000. Some 85.3 million people, or 90 per cent of the population, had taken out health insurance, four years earlier than the target.

About 3 per cent of the population enjoyed monthly allowances, including 1.65 million elderly people.

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said most of the set targets were met with many achievements in policies for contributors to the national cause and social security policies, the poverty rate dropped quickly and the spiritual and material life of people have been improved, the coverage of social security, health insurance and support for disadvantaged people in the society have been expanded, and workers’ incomes increased.

However, according to the Prime Minister, social policies failed to cover all people and have not yet been implemented synchronously. There are two more targets that need to be achieved: the proportion of underweight children under 5 years old and the proportion of rural population using clean water in line with national standards.

In the current context, according to the Prime Minister, we have to face many challenges such as an aging population, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, natural disasters, diseases, climate change and particularly the spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the economy in parallel with developing society, ensuring harmony between economic and social development.

Regarding solutions, the Prime Minister stressed the view that people are considered the centre of the development process, ensuring that social policies must be built and implemented in harmony with economic development. Investment in implementing social policies means investment in development.

He emphasised that social policies must ensure comprehensive and inclusive development, particularly in improving human development quality and job creation, while narrowing the wealth gap and reducing social inequality.

He required to pool all possible resources to effectively fight the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting businesses and unemployed labourers, and ensuring social security. 

In the future, the Prime Minister said it is also necessary to continue to refine laws in various areas and improve the quantity and quality of basic social services.

The Prime Minister urged the development of a flexible, diverse, multi-level and modern social insurance system towards social insurance for all, especially voluntary social insurance in agriculture and unofficial labour./.