This is an activity aimed at further promoting cooperation in the field of social security with Japanese partners and on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan (1973-2023).

Discussion on social welfare experience

During their working trip, the delegation discussed with Japanese partners on the development of participants in social insurance, ensuring social welfare for the elderly, and exchanging experiences in implementing the bilateral agreement on social insurance.

Specifically, General Director Nguyen The Manh and the delegation exchanged with the leaders of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare on the activities of the pension system of the two countries, discussed measures to expand coverage, develop participants in social insurance, and ensure social welfare for the people in the context of an aging population. The two sides agreed to strengthen the implementation of cooperative activities in the field of Social Security policy, pensions, training cooperation, and capacity building for officials.

VSS and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare

Also within the framework of the working trip, the delegation discussed and shared information with the Japanese Pension Service (JPS) on the functions, tasks, organizational structure, and activities of the two agencies in ensuring social welfare and benefits for workers; exchanging experiences in developing participants in social insurance, ensuring social welfare for the elderly, applying information technology and digital transformation, and training and improving capacity for officials of Vietnam's Social Security sector.

Representatives of VSS and the Japanese Pension Service also discussed and considered the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of Social Security and pension benefits to deepen cooperation activities. At the same time, they shared experiences in implementing bilateral agreements on Social Security.

Discussion on social welfare experience

During the working session with the senior leaders of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Tokyo, the VSS delegation learned about JICA's policies and priorities for supporting development in Southeast Asian countries in general and Vietnam in particular. They also discussed possibilities for cooperation in training and capacity building for officials of Vietnam's Social Security sector.

VSS also proposed that JICA consider supporting VSS to learn from Japan's experience in developing social insurance participants, training and improving capacity for officials in implementing social insurance and health insurance policies, especially in training officials to prepare for the implementation of the bilateral agreement on Social Security between Vietnam and Japan.

In order to learn from Japan's experience in developing participants and carrying out social insurance collection work, VSS proposed to visit and learn from the Social Security Agency and the Pension Service of Japan (Sharoushi) to learn about the social insurance collection agency model and use a team of Japanese labor and social security consultants.

Discussion on social welfare experience

Accordingly, both sides committed to continuing to build effective cooperation through joint activities such as organizing workshops on developing participants and effectively implementing social insurance, exchanging delegations and experts, exchanging information, experience and considering the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding between the two agencies.

On this occasion, the VSS delegation also visited Soka University - one of the leading universities with a long history of development in Japan. Soka University currently has 7,549 students, including about 700 international students and a modern system of facilities and equipment. In 2014, Soka University was recognized as one of the universities under the "Top Global Universities" project.

Soka University has many specialized research centers and institutes in various fields, especially the Education Research Institute of the University, which specializes in designing training programs on social welfare, retirement systems, long-term care insurance, etc. for international organizations and social welfare agencies of countries. VSS and Soka will continue to exchange discussions on the possibility of cooperation in training and capacity building for VSS officials.

During their working visit to Japan, the delegation also visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan and worked with Temporary Representative of the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan Nguyen Duc Minh on the implementation of Social Security policies for Vietnamese workers in Japan and exchanged solutions to ensure social welfare for these workers. VSS hopes that the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan will serve as a bridge to convey information to help Vietnamese workers in Japan better understand and comply with Social Security policies.