Ho Chi Minh City's Social Security Agency has been carrying out some policies to support both employees and employers who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The agency has allowed 190 COVID-hit units with 37,300 workers to suspend payments to pension and survivorship benefit funds, worth over 290 million VND (12.7 million USD).

More than 2.3 million employees working at 101, 300 enterprises in the city have had their insurance premiums for occupational accidents and diseases reduced from 0.5 percent to zero percent between July 2021 and June 2022. The total reduction is worth over 1 trillion VND (43.4 million USD).

The agency has also coordinated with the city’s Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to certify 19,657 units with 296,640 employees who take unpaid leave, temporarily suspend their labour contracts, and disqualify for unemployment benefit, thereby helping them receive support from 1.8 million VND to 3.71 million VND in line with government’s Resolution 68, which aims to help businesses and employees overcome difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phan Van Men, director of the agency, said it has issued specific guiding documents to facilitate local residents' medical examination and treatment and payment for medical expenses covered by health insurance. 

Accordingly, patients in quarantine and locked down areas who receive medical examination and treatment at any medical facility, will still enjoy full benefits when participating in health insurance as prescribed by law.

Patients with health insurance cards can take diagnostic tests for COVID-19 in line with the guidance of the Ministry of Health and their payment is covered by the health insurance fund or the state budget according to regulations, he said./.