The Lao delegation is on a visit to Viet Nam to share experience within the framework of the cooperation agreement signed between the legislative bodies of the two countries in May 2022. 

VSS General Director Nguyen The Manh and Chairwoman of the Lao NA’s Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs Thoummaly Vongphachanh chaired the working session.

VSS Director General Nguyen The Manh co-chairs the meeting 

At the meeting, VSS Director General Manh affirmed that the VSS always attaches great importance to friendship and cooperation with its Lao partners in the field of social security.

Over recent years, the two sides have carried out many cooperation activities. Particularly the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and an action programme for the 2016 - 2020 period served as a foundation and orientation for all cooperation activities of the two sides to be implemented more practically and effectively.

VSS is willing to enhance the friendship and cooperation with the Lao NA's Committee to continue implementing cooperation activities in the future, aiming to strengthen the relations between the two agencies and to effectively implement social security tasks to ensure benefits for residents and businesses of the two countries.

At the meeting, members of the Lao NA's Committee were briefed on information relating to the management and use of the social insurance and health insurance funds; the organisation, functions, tasks and operation mechanism of the VSS; and the implementation of social insurance and health insurance policies.

A view of the meeting

VSS Director General Manh and representatives from VSS units also discussed measures to deal with obstacles in implementing social security policies and consulted with the Lao participants. 

The Lao delegation expressed their impression of the success and efforts of the Viet Nam social insurance industry in implementing social security and developing social insurance and health insurance participants.

They thanked VSS for organising the working session which they said provided an opportunity to share valuable experience with Laos in organising the implementation of social security policies.

Meeting to review, orientate bilateral cooperation

In August 2022, VSS and the Lao Social Security Agency Organisation held a meeting to review the bilateral cooperation results during the 2016-2022 period and cooperation orientation for the 2022-2026 period.

The Lao Social Security Organisation stressed the need to study and share experience with the VSS about the organisation, structure, functions, tasks and operation mechanism of the VSS as well as experience in social insurance inspection and examination and disseminating information about social security policies for residents.

As planned, in November, the Lao Social Security Organisation will chair the ASEAN Social Security Association Board Meeting in Luang Phabang.

VSS and the Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare plan to sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for the 2022-2025 period, creating a legal foundation to enhance the special friendship between the two agencies and the two countries, as well as strengthening the sustainable and integrated ASEAN Community./.