Attending the conference at the central point were leaders from several departments under VSS. At the locations of 63 provinces and cities, delegates included provincial and city social security leaders in charge of communication, leaders and all staffs from the Media division, as well as representatives of district and city social security offices leaders and officers responsible for communication.

In his opening speech, Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh warmly welcomed the lecturers, reporters, and leaders from VSS’ departments, as well as the leaders of the provincial and city social security offices and VSS industry’ communication officers. He stated that in the first months of 2024, the information, dissemination, and propagation of social, health and unemployment insurance policies and laws from the central to local levels have continued to be innovated on content, form, and method. Additionally, VSS’ communication activities have seen effective coordination with all levels of government and news agencies from central to local levels. As a result, modern communication, social media communication, and digital communication have been increasingly promoted by VSS.

Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh delivers the opening speech at the conference

Highlighting the key achievements in communication efforts, Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh noted that VSS has issued comprehensive directives and guidelines on communication work, which have been strictly and effectively implemented by provincial and city social security offices. Consequently, the policy communication work of the entire VSS industry has consistently maintained professionalism, standardization, uniformity, creativity, and effectiveness. This work is conducted regularly and continuously, focusing on key points, being easy to understand and remember, and fitting the characteristics, needs, and realities of each locality and region, as well as each audience. Information on social and health insurance policies is frequently and continuously broadcasted and posted on all communication channels with a large number of news articles, diverse and rich in content, and high in quality, thereby significantly contributing to raising awareness and gaining public consensus on social and health insurance policies and laws.

Notably, direct communication, communication through electronic portals, social media, and other communication channels continue to receive attention, are promoted, and have created high levels of resonance, meeting the diverse needs of different audience groups. The VSS industry has organized approximately 1,000 launch ceremonies and 12,800 communication, consulting, and dialogue conferences, along with about 6,700 news articles posted in the Social Security Magazine, over 1,200 news and documents posted on the VSS Portal, and around 21,900 news articles, videos, and infographics posted on the electronic portals of provinces and cities.

Delegates attend the conference at the central location

Several notable and effective communication models with high potential for replication were also highlighted, such as the "Social Security Corner" program be broadcasted every Sunday on VTV1, Vietnam Television. An Giang launched a photo contest titled "Moments of Social, Health, Unemployment Insurance Policy Communication for VSS Officers and Employees in 2024." Quang Nam implemented the "Silver Lining" model, promoting voluntary social insurance and household health insurance in 36 villages and hamlets across 12 districts and towns. Phu Yen collaborated with the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to perform plays and screen videos on social and health insurance policies in communes and towns. Dak Lak coordinated with church leaders to propagate voluntary social and health insurance policies to the Catholic community, while launching a model of a commune where 100% of residents participate in health insurance.

"With the achievements made, the policy communication work has significantly and effectively contributed to fulfilling the political tasks of the entire VSS industry. On behalf of the leadership, I highly appreciate and commend the information and communication work of the entire sector," Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh praised.

Acknowledging the outstanding contributions of the VSS communication work, Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh emphasized that communication has actively contributed to the amendment and completion of social and health insurance laws and policies, as well as sustainable development and expansion of the coverage of social and health insurance participants, which has been increasing year by year, consistently meeting the targets set by the National Assembly and the Government. In addition, communication work has encouraged, motivated, and reflected the sentiments and recommendations of the public and enterprises, thereby positively contributing to the application of information technology, innovation in business processes, administrative procedure reform, and enhancing public and business satisfaction with the services provided by the VSS industry.

Local sites participate in the conference via online platforms

Furthermore, the communication work of the VSS industry has effectively leveraged the leadership and direction of local authorities, the cooperation of various departments, agencies, and organizations, the consensus of the public and businesses, and the support of news agencies and media. As a result, the entire political system has genuinely engaged in social and health insurance work. To date, the targets on the coverage of social and health insurance are supposed as basic socio-economic indicators for all localities nationwide, at all levels, including provinces, cities, districts, and communes. A team of journalists, reporters, and editors specializing in social and health insurance has been established, covering news agencies from the central to local level.

With the achievements in policy communication work on social and health insurance, and to meet the development requirements of the VSS industry in the new development phase, to successfully achieve the goal of universal social and health insurance according to the policies and laws of the Party and State, Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh urged the provincial and city social security offices to effectively implement several key aspects. They are included: continuing to strengthen communication work throughout the sector to contribute to the successful completion of assigned political objectives and tasks with the best results and quality of service. It is also essential to continuously innovate content, form, and method to further enhance communication effectiveness, in accordance with the resolutions of the Party, National Assembly, Government, and Prime Minister's Decision No. 1676/QD-TTg on comprehensively renovating the content, form, and method of social insurance communication; Prime Minister's Directive No. 07/CT-TTg on strengthening policy communication; and Resolution No. 96/NQ-BCS of the Party Committee of Vietnam Social Security. "Communication work must be conducted regularly, continuously, proactively, timely, ahead of the curve, contributing to spreading inspiration, raising awareness, and changing behaviors of units, organizations, and individuals," Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh stated.

Lecturer Nguyen Thu Ha, Deputy Director of the Digital Content Production and Development Center,Vietnam Television (VTV), presents a thematic lecture at the conference

Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh also requested that communication work must proactively advise and coordinate to ensure that the entire political system and society continue to engage in social security work in general and social and health insurance policy communication in particular. In particular, it is necessary to take advantage of the leadership and guidance of the Social and health insurance Policy Implementation Steering Committee at all levels, coordinate with news agencies and media, and involve neighborhood group leaders, village elders, and reputable individuals in the community.

"Focus on building, training, fostering, and arranging a team of passionate and responsible officials and civil servants who work on social and health insurance policy communication. They must have the necessary capacity and expertise in communication, an understanding of social and health insurance policies, and the professional knowledge of the sector. At the same time, instill the motto that every official and civil servant in the VSS industry is a communication officer," Deputy General Director emphasized.

Assigning tasks to officials and civil servants involved in communication work in the coming period, Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh emphasized the need to continue focusing on communication to complete the plans, targets, and tasks assigned for 2024; communicate to support the amendment of the Health Insurance Law and the implementation of the Social Insurance Law of 2014; and communicate about the 30-year development journey of the Vietnam Social Security sector. Additionally, promptly report to Vietnam Social Security and proactively propose solutions regarding negative, inaccurate information and issues of public concern.

Director of Social Insurance Implementation Department Do Ngoc Tho presents a thematic session on "New Points of the Social Insurance Law No. 41/2024/QH15"

Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh also emphasized that 2024 training conference on information and communication skills and professional operations is an annual event aimed at enhancing the capacity of officials in carrying out the political tasks of VSS. Therefore, the summoned officials are encouraged to demonstrate a strong spirit of responsibility and actively participate in the entire training program and plan that has been approved. "I believe that with the participation of experienced lecturers and experts, and the full and responsible involvement of VSS’ leadership and communication officers from social security, our conference will gain great success; many insights, knowledge, skills, and experiences in social and health insurance communication policies will be shared," said Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh.

At the conference, experts from Vietnam Television, the Academy of Journalism and Communication, leaders from the Social Insurance Implementation Department, and the Finance Accounting Department provided direct teaching, dissemination, and guidance on several topics, including skills for interacting with the press, crisis communication management, and the new points of the Law on Social Insurance No. 41/2024/QH15…