Efforts to increase the number of  voluntary social insurance participants

Voluntary social insurance is a social security policy of the Party and State, implemented and supported by the State; the State provides the payment of social insurance premiums and provides free health insurance cards [for the participants]; it is non-profit, free from any collapse and serves the only goal that is for the benefit of the people. The voluntary social insurance came into being in 2008 with the aim to enable every labourer in the non-formal sector to join the social insurance system. After 10 years, especially since the second half of 2018, along with the political orientation to realise “universal social insurance” as stipulated in Resolution No 28-NQ/TW, the development of voluntary social insurance has made certain breakthroughs.

The number of participants increased more than 107 per cent from 277,000 in 2018 to nearly 574,000 in 2019, equivalent to 1,17 per cent of the labour force in the working age. Of note, the figure in 2019 alone equates the total number of all previous years.

In 2020, despite consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic as well as natural disasters in the Central and Central Highlands areas, the social security sector still fulfilled significant targets and tasks, especially in the expansion of the voluntary social insurance network thanks to the application of various synchronous and timely solutions.  The year witnessed 1.128 million participants (almost double the number in 2019), accounting for about 2.1 per cent of the labour force in the working age, who are farmers and labourers in the non-formal sector. The figure exceeds the target for 2021 set forth in the Resolution No 28-NQ/TW.

The abovementioned results clearly demonstrates efforts of the social security sector over the past years, enabling many more people to join the State social security network, to be taken care of when they get old and are unable to work. The practice has helped further strengthen the national social security.

In 2021, upon the continuously complicated developments of COVID-19, the whole Vietnam social security sector has taken flexible and suitable solutions right from the beginning of the year to increase the number of voluntary social insurance participants. As a result, by the end of April, the number of participants reached 1.12 million (a slight decrease as compared to the total number of 2020 due to COVID-19, but a rise of 527,000 over the same period of 2020).

It is necessary to have "breakthroughs” in communications, innovations in policy to expand the voluntary social insurance coverage (Illustrative Photo)

“Breakthrough” solutions in communications

The “Month for mobilising, implementing the universal social insurance coverage” is a highlight in the dissemination of policies and laws related to social insurance in order to lure the attention of all strata of the local people to the social insurance policy, particularly voluntary social insurance. Also it aims to raise the awareness of employers about paying premiums for the labourers.  

 The “Month for mobilising, implementing the universal social insurance coverage” is strongly promoted in 2021 under the title “Social Insurance for all labourers”, disseminating the position, role and humanitarian significance of the social insurance policy, especially highlighting the rights and benefits of the voluntary social insurance participants. Key messages are publicised including: “Universal social insurance contributes to sustainable social security cause”; “Participation in social insurance means investment for future”; “Social insurance helps lessen financial burden once you suffer from health risks in life”; “Retirement pension and health insurance – financial foundation for old age”; “Participation in social insurance is to protect your family’; etc.

With the aim to reach the target of increasing the number of participants in the social insurance system in general and the voluntary social insurance system in particular, in May and in 2021, besides its tasks of proposing opinions for perfecting the social insurance policies and laws, Vietnam Social Insurance is determined to synchronously implement solutions as follows: Increased participation of Party Committees, authorities at all levels and the whole political system in the leadership, instruction, and dissemination of the implementation of voluntary social insurance policies.

To make specific plans and set targets for each commune, ward, and agent. Review, classify, and build up specific data for each potential group of people (according to age, gender, job and income, etc) for an effective dissemination and mobilisation. 

To continue diversifying dissemination methods such as organising workshops, seminars, contests, consultations, direct dialogues,… focusing on direct dissemination and mobilisation at grassroots levels.

To provide professional training and skills for collection agencies’ staff; set specific weekly and monthly targets regarding new voluntary social insurance participants for each agency. To review and cease operations of agencies that fail to abide by regulations.

In addition, to continue calling for businesses, kind-hearted people, bodies, and organisations to contribute, support, and buy voluntary social insurance books to present to people in need to promote the sustainability of the national social security policy.

Photo: At the virtual conference on the collection and development of participants of social insurance, health insurance in May, 2021, Vietnam Social Security’s Deputy Director General Tran Dinh Lieu requested Social Security offices in provinces, cities to develop communications schemes suitable to each group of people to effectively mobilise and encourage more participants into the voluntary social insurance system.

Of note, at the virtual conference on the collection and development of participants of social insurance, health insurance in May, 2021, Vietnam Social Security’s Deputy Director General Tran Dinh Lieu instructed bodies in the whole sector to work with Post Office to have flexible and creative measures rights at grassroots level; further bring into play the consultative role of the Social Security bodies, and encourage the involvement of Party Committees, local authorities, particularly at commune, ward and township levels, in expanding the number of participants.

“The pandemic might prolong and be complicated, bodies must be well prepared to deal with any difficulties regularly; further enhance the ability to forecast possible changes in each quarter, year, and three-year period, and so on; identify potential groups of participants to build up suitable and effective plans and approaches,” said Deputy Director General Tran Dinh Lieu./.