In attendance were leaders from some units under the Vietnam Social Security (VSS); and leaders from the provincial Social Security and its divisions, and district-level social insurance bodies.

VSS Director General Nguyen The Manh chairs the working session

Director of Ninh Thuan Province Social Security Nguyen Manh Tu said in 2022 the agency worked out numerous solutions to well fulfill assigned tasks for the implementation of social insurance and health insurance regime and policy thanks to the determination and efforts of the whole staff; the direction of VSS, and the provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee; and the close collaboration among relevant sectors and departments and local authorities.

The provincial Social Security accomplished targets set for the collection of insurance premiums, reduced arrears, and increased number of social insurance and health insurance participants; provided financial support for labourers’ house rent, and for units and enterprises hardest hit by COVID-19 in line with the Prime Minister’s Decision No 08/QĐ-TTg dated March 18, 2022; developed the VssID app, synchronising social insurance data with the national population database; effectively applied information technology in professional operations; increased specialised inspections targeting units that delayed the payment of insurance premiums.

Specifically, in 2022, there were additional 548,232 health insurance participants, which increases the total coverage of health insurance to 91.57 per cent of the population in the locality; 43,023 new social insurance participants; and 38,022 new unemployment insurance participants. The province’s total collection of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance premiums reached over VND1.241 trillion (nearly US$53 million), fulfilling 102.9 per cent of the target set by VSS. The arrears were VND29.9 billion, accounting for 2.35 per cent of the total premiums which needed to be collected, the lowest rate since 2016.

In January 2023, the agency continued working out solutions synchronously to increase the number of participants; pushing for increased collection and reduced arrears; timely resolving procedures to ensure sufficient insurance benefits for the participants; increasing sudden inspections to quickly deal with violations. All targets to increase participants and collection of premiums, and to reduce arrears in the locality rose as compared to the same period in 2022.

Besides achievements, representatives from the social insurance agency and its divisions, and district-level social insurance bodies raised existing shortcomings in the implementation of social insurance and health insurance policies. Most of businesses in the province are small and medium. Up to 1,000 businesses have less than 50 employees and often face changes in the labour force, which causes difficulties to the implementation of insurance policies. Early this year, the Du Long Industrial Park re-opened after 10 years but only two enterprises have registered to operate. Additionally, Ninh Thuan is home to the majority of ethnic groups with low income, thus, the expansion of voluntary social insurance and health insurance coverage encountered difficulties despite strengthened dissemination.

A general view of the working session

In response to the provincial social insurance agency’s reports, Head of the VSS’ Department of Contribution Collection – Insurance Book and Card Duong Van Hao said the collection of insurance premiums and the increase of insurance participants in the province remained challenging in 2022. VSS had organised some working sessions to figure out the shortcomings and have proper directions whilst the provincial Social Security made efforts to work out solutions to reach positive achievements as seen by the end of the year.

However, Mr.Hao said, the provincial Social Security continues facing difficulties in the collection of insurance premiums and in increasing the number of participants. Therefore, the agency must quickly organise, reinforce, and assess the collection of insurance premiums in the locality. The agency should report to local government and VSS on organisations that fail to fulfill the tasks to have proper and timely settlement. The agency should also work with local police to update, and synchronise data in the province with the National Population Database; and continue disseminating information, and encouraging the local people to install the digital social insurance app - VssID app, targeting to have 100 per cent of insurance participants use the app.

Regarding health insurance, Head of the VSS’ Department of Health Insurance Implementation Le Van Phuc said there is a shortage of assessment team, so e-assessment should be accelerated. In addition, it is necessary to assess and analyse data in the system and increase collaboration between the information technology division and health insurance assessment division to detect any violations and risks.

Regarding inspection and examination, Head of VSS’ Inspection Department Lo Quan Hiep said in 2023, the provincial social insurance agency should enhance specialised inspections; and should use force and impose penalty for units that deliberately delay or fail to comply with inspection conclusions.

Regarding communications, a representative from the VSS’ Media Centre said the provincial Social Security should adjust some contents in the province’s Planning with a more detailed scenario for each target group; clearly define responsibility of the Social Security’s divisions; and supplement certain communication topics.

Concluding the working session, VSS Director General Nguyen The Manh said in the context of difficulties related to geography, climate, population, and socio-economic conditions, Ninh Thuan Province’s Social Security has closely followed instructions from VSS and local authorities; and worked with sectors and departments to work out solutions to well implement assigned tasks. In 2022, the provincial Social Security completed and surpassed many targets: fully and timely settled benefits for insurance participants; and maintained discipline and solidarity in the unit.

VSS Director General Nguyen The Manh takes the floor

The Director General spoke highly of achievements that Ninh Thuan Province Social Security made in 2022 and reiterated that VSS leaders have always paid due attention to and created most favourable conditions for the social insurance agency to well perform its tasks.

Regarding orientations and duties for 2023, Director General Nguyen The Manh urged the provincial Social Security to continue closely following directions of VSS leadership; concurrently to proactively advise local Party Committee and People’s Committee to include the social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance coverage targets in the Resolutions of People’s Councils at all levels. The Social Security should set specific coverage targets for districts and communes and contribute to the formulation of plans, and solutions to help with the fulfillment of targets set for social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance coverage.

The provincial Social Security needs to quickly review, evaluate and expand the collection services and staff; proactively provide further professional training and guidance and communication skills; organise customer conferences to seek for potential participants; and regularly examines activities of collection staff to make sure that they comply with processes and regulations.

As the local people are still in a very difficult economic situation and have little time to follow information in the press, the provincial Social Security should study and apply appropriate and flexible methods of dissemination, for instance, through social networks, community activities, local broadcasting system; and should advise local authorities to introduce added support policies as well as mobilise assistance from the society to help more people join the insurance regime.

Additionally, the provincial Social Security should have flexible types of specialised inspections to ensure best benefits for participants; and should enhance online public services to facilitate their participation./.