Its branches in 63 provinces and cities nationwide and 672 district-level social insurance agencies joined the meeting.

Le Minh Khai, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister attended and directed the conference.

General Director of Vietnam Social Security (VSS) Nguyen The Manh said that in 2021, VSS successfully implemented dual goals – completing tasks in challenging conditions and effectively implementing policies on support for employees and employers who have faced difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Illustrative image (VSS)

The VSS achieved outstanding results during the development of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By December 31, 2021, the number of people participating in social insurance totalled more than 16.5 million, an increase of 2.2 per cent compared to 2020, reaching 33.77 per cent of the labour force of working age. The number of people participating in unemployment insurance reached nearly 13.4 million, an increase of 0.4 per cent compared to 2020, reaching 27.34 per cent of the labour force.

The number of people participating in health insurance was more than 88.8 million people, an increase of 0.9 per cent compared to 2020, accounting for 91.01 per cent of Vietnam’s population. This is one of the important targets assigned by the Government.

Notably, the number of people participating in voluntary social insurance continued to grow strongly. In 2021, more than 1.45 million people participated in voluntary social insurance, an increase of 28.9 per cent over the previous year, reaching 2.96 per cent of the total number of farmers and unofficial workers of working age.  The rate is 1.96 per cent higher than the target assigned in Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW.

In 2021, Vietnam's social insurance industry has ensured full, timely and safe payment for 3.3 million people who receive monthly pensions and social insurance benefits. There are nearly 15,000 payment sites in communes. Over 738,000 people received unemployment benefits and over 7.8 million people received benefits of sickness, maternity, convalescence and health rehabilitation. About 125.96 million people had medical costs covered by health insurance.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai congratulated and praised the VSS leaders, civil servants and public employees for their solidarity, efforts and drastic implementation of tasks.

They overcame difficulties and challenges to gain the above-mentioned achievements, contributing to the stability and socio-economic development of the country, ensuring social security for the people, Khai said.

However, besides the positive results, Khai also pointed out shortcomings, difficulties and challenges of the social insurance industry, particularly those related to the current legal framework, the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, delayed insurance payment and late payment of social insurance.

Khái also urged the timely settlement of benefits for employees in case the enterprise owes social insurance but is dissolved, goes bankrupt or foreign owners leave. Other problems were regarding the abuse and exploitation of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance funds.

In some places, the awareness of the roles and responsibilities of the Party committees and authorities in the implementation of policies and laws on social insurance and health insurance is not adequate, while the awareness of the employer in compliance with policies and laws is not sufficient, Khai added.

Deputy Prime Minister Khai said that the COVID-19 pandemic could last into 2022, continuing to affect the implementation of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance regimes and policies as well as social security.

Therefore, the social insurance industry must focus on implementing key solutions in 2022, Khai said.

VSS should further coordinate with ministries and agencies to review and perfect institutions, strategies and plans in the fields of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance.

They would together review problems related to the provisions of current legal documents and propose to competent authorities to amend to make the insurance regulations synchronous, feasible and consistent with the resolutions of the Government.

The VSS was also asked to continue measures to increase the coverage of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance, settle the regime to ensure accuracy, timeliness and convenience. Innovations are needed to better serve the people, promote online public service systems and non-cash payment.

Another requirement for the VSS is the timely implementation of programmes to support employees and employers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in line with the Government's Resolutions, the Prime Minister's Decisions.

Inspection work must be strengthened to ensure flexibility and efficiency, promptly detect and handle illegal, negative and wasteful activities or payment evasion and fraud relating to social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance funds.

Khai also asked VSS to further promote administrative procedure reform and digital transformation, build a database, improve governance capacity, service quality, shorten administrative procedures as well as boost anti-corruption activities.

The VSS needs to improve infrastructure for better connecting and sharing data with ministries and branches, which would help ensure smooth operation and cyber security when applying online public administrative services. 

On this occasion, authorised by the President, Deputy Prime Minister Khai awarded the third-class Labor Medal to Vietnam Social Security for outstanding achievements in State administrative reform in the 2011-2020 period.

He also gave the First Class Labor Medal to the Office of the Vietnam Social Insurance, Second-class Labor Medal for the VSS’ Health Insurance Policy Implementation Board, Third-class Labor Medal for the VSS’ Archives Center and for Le Hung Son, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Social Security, for his outstanding achievements in his work from 2016 to 2020, contributing to the cause of building socialism and defending the fatherland.