Deputy General Director - Tran Dinh Lieu - delivered a directing speech at the Conference

According to the report of the Department of Social Insurance Book and Health Insurance Card: As of April 30, 2021, there are 16.08 million participants in social insurance nationwide, reaching 90.9% of the plan assigned by VSS, reaching 32.3 % of the labor force in the age group, an increase of 104.8 thousand compared to March 2021, a decrease of 76.7 thousand compared to the end of 2020, an increase of 1.1 million compared to the same period last year.

In which, the number of participants in compulsory social insurance is 14.96 million people, reaching 93.8% of the plan assigned by VSS, an increase of 81.4 thousand compared to March 2021, a decrease of 76.7 thousand compared to the end of 2020.

The number of participants in voluntary social insurance is 1.12 million people, reaching 64.5% of the plan assigned by VSS, an increase of 23.4 thousand compared to March 2021, a decrease of 1.1 thousand compared to the end of 2020, an increase of 569 thousand over the same period last year.

The number of participants of health insurance is 87.3 million people, reaching 97.1% of the plan assigned by VSS, reaching 89.43% of the population, an increase of 412 thousand compared to March 2021, a decrease of 676.2 thousand compared to the end of 2020, an increase of 2.1 million over the same period last year.

The collection of social, health and unemployment insurance contributions was 124,618 billion VND, reaching 29.4% of the plan assigned by VSS (an increase of 7,696 billion VND compared to the same period last year). The total debt of social, health and unemployment insurance is 22,115 billion dong, accounting for 5.2% of receivables, down 323 billion dong, corresponding to a decrease of 0.4% compared to the same period last year.

On the basis of assessing the general situation of contribution collection and development of participants of social and health insurance, Lieu praised a number of units with outstanding achievements such as: Social Security Office of U Minh District (Ca Mau Province) has met and exceeded the annual plan in terms of the number of voluntary social insurance contributions; Social Security Office of Nghe An Province has reached 86.6% of the plan in the number of participants in voluntary social insurance, equivalent to 86,773 new participants.

Sharing some experiences at the conference, Phan Van Ri - Director of Social Security Office of U Minh district (Ca Mau Province) said, at present, the agency has developed about 800 participants in voluntary social insurance, bringing the total number in the area to about 3,000, reaching 103% of the year plan. According to Ri, the method of the U Minh district is to closely coordinate with the commune authorities and closely follow the target audience for mobilization; and to request collection agents to manage and mobilize people to participate continuously. As it is currently the dry season with good weather, people in the area are benefiting from a seasonal source of income, therefore, the mobilization of voluntary social insurance has many advantages. However, the district social insurance agency must also be very proactive, regularly and directly work with the commune authorities, mobilize the participation of the cell secretaries of each village; monitor and supervise the operation of agents on a regular basis, etc.

At the conference, the delegates also listened to the experience of the development of voluntary social insurance participants of Nghe An Social Security Office, and of household-based health insurance participants of Nam Dinh Social Security Office, etc. Besides, time was also spent to evaluate the difficulties, share solutions to strengthen collection work, develop subjects participating in social and health insurance, etc.

Nguyen Quoc Thanh - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh Social Security Office said that the collection and development of subjects in the area are facing many difficulties; Currently, the unit has strengthened the review of data provided by the Tax and Planning and Investment agencies to increase the number of new participants. Regarding voluntary social insurance, affiliated units will actively review, urge and mobilize people to participate; mobilize support from organizations and individuals to support people to participate in voluntary social insurance. In addition, the Ho Chi Minh Social Security Office has also actively implemented collection measures such as: Sending notices directly to the unit, posting a list of outstanding debtors on the mass media, strengthening inspection, etc. in order to rapidly increase the number of participants and reduce the outstanding debt of social and health insurance.

Duong Van Hao - Director of Department of Social Insurance Book and Health Insurance Card gave a speech at the Conference

In Dong Nai, Pham Long Son, Deputy Director of the provincial social insurance agency, shared that the number of compulsory social insurance contributions in the area has been fluctuating, due to some enterprises altering business activities, cutting workers or moving production areas. Therefore, Dong Nai Social Security Office is strengthening coordination with relevant units to closely grasp the number of employees at enterprises, in order to ensure that the collection is correct and sufficient.

In the context of numerous difficulties due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, Dam Thi Hoa - Deputy Director of Hanoi Social Security Office said that over the past time, the Hanoi Social Security Office has been making efforts to develop the number of participants of social and health insurance. In particular, there have been many solutions to increase the number of people installing and using the VssID application, focusing on departments, branches and groups of students; as well as to enhance instruction in online forms. During the recent monthly pension and social insurance allowance payment period, the agency has also propagated and installed VssID. In the coming time, the unit will advise the City People's Committee to direct and strengthen the plan to develop the number of participants and collect social and health insurance contributions in the area.

In order to complete the collection plan, Hao suggested that social insurance agencies of provinces and cities strengthen solutions such as: To regularly advise the Party committees and authorities; to proactively review data provided by tax authorities; strengthen inspection and examination, etc. Besides, it is necessary to timely implement measures to increase revenue and develop subjects in accordance with the actual situation. For the areas not affected by the epidemic, it is needed to promote further propaganda, striving to soon achieve the assigned targets. "It may be more difficult in the future; therefore, it is necessary to be flexible, and maximize efficiency during the time when there is no epidemic and social distancing is not yet required in the area" - Hao noted.

Speaking at the conference, Chu Thi Lan Huong - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Post Corporation proposed that VSS organize communication and mobilize small groups of 3-5 people, which sounds more suitable to the epidemic context of COVID-19 evolving complicatedly. In addition, it is proposed that the local social insurance agencies coordinate with the Post Office to review and promptly mobilize the number of unemployed workers at enterprises to continue participating in voluntary social insurance.

Director of Social Security Office of U Minh District (Ca Mau Province) Phan Van Ri speaking at the local site

Concluding the Conference, Lieu acknowledged and praised the units that performed well in contribution collecting and developing participants of social and health insurance as well as campaigning to install VssID. At the same time, the Deputy General Director also pointed out a number of limitations, including ones of subjective reasons. "VSS has directed the development of a plan of work contents and set goals for each month; requested social insurance agencies of provinces and cities to stick to the plan, take care of each locality, assign responsibilities to each individual, and ensure implementation progress. As there are common practical difficulties, units need to strengthen research, sharing, learning from each other's experiences, and replicating effective solutions." - the Deputy General Director noted.

Lieu also directed units in the whole Industry as well as Post Offices at all levels to immediately overcome the mentality of subjectivity and dependence. According to Lieu, there are a number of difficulties and objective obstacles in terms of mechanisms and policies; however, it is crucial to be flexible, apply creative measures right from the grassroots; especially, it is necessary to further promote the advisory role of the social insurance agency, mobilize the participation of the Party committees and local authorities, especially at the commune, ward and township levels.

Lieu emphasized the epidemic situation can be prolonged and complicated, and expected the units must be ready to face the difficulties on a regular basis; to further improve the forecasting of changes in each quarter, each year, the 3-year period, etc.; to identify potential target groups in detail, and identify specific characteristics; thereby to build a plan, an approach, a reasonable and effective method. To drastically give directions and assign tasks, then supervise, check and evaluate; At all professional stages, it is necessary to further enhance professionalism. To immediately commend and reward units and individuals with good achievements; thereby further expanding the good and effective ways. In addition, to further enhance the efficiency of the collection agency team, focusing on training, fostering and updating knowledge on a regular basis.

Especially emphasizing the role of communication, the Deputy General Director directed that it is imperative to develop a scenario for each target group, with specific content and form of communication, suitable to psychological characteristics or the income level. Notably, besides being flexible and proactive in preventing the COVID-19 epidemic, it is also necessary to avoid being passive in the process of collecting, mobilizing and developing objects; to be determined to soon achieve the target in the first 6 months of the year, creating a foundation to complete the mission for the whole 2021 ahead.