Speaking at the event, Deputy Head of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs Bui Sy Loi said 2019 witnessed the highest insurance participation. The number of insurance participants in 2019 and the first months of 2020 is equal to the total number of participants in ten years of the policy. The percentage of those enjoying lump-sum social insurance allowance dropped, showing a positive sign. The administrative reform and use of IT helped reduce administrative procedures; the payroll reduced compared to 2019. The social insurance fund and the component funds are deducted except for the maternity illness fund.

The committee’s members also pointed out drawbacks in the implementation of social insurance and management of the social insurance fund in 2019. Social insurance and unemployment insurance debts in which companies shirk insurance payments have not been properly handled. The assistance to participate in voluntary social insurance and mechanisms for developing policies and coordinating management need improving, while the payment for the maternity illness fund remains high.

Meeting overview

Several committee members said people with health insurance cards are not as prioritised when having examinations as those paying by cash. They asked local branches of Viet Nam Social Security to collaborate with medical facilities to address the issue.

Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung said the management and use of the insurance fund had been enhanced in recent years with the fund’s sustainability ensured to use Government bonds and lend to the state. In 2019, compulsory insurance exceeded 32 per cent. However, there are still obstacles and drawbacks such as late payment of insurance premiums, false and delayed payment of unemployment insurance premiums, the surplus of some funds is too large, especially short-term funds such as the Unemployment Fund. These issues will be solved by ministries and State agencies.

In conclusion, the committee head Nguyen Thuy Anh applauded the Government, ministries and State agencies for handling the implementation of social insurance and asked them to identify drawbacks and challenges as well as forecast difficulties in 2020 to come up with effective solutions. The committee commits to working closely with the Government, ministries and State agencies in solving disadvantages of the implementation of social insurance and managing the social insurance fund./.