(Source: Viet Nam Social Security)

The Vietnam Social Security (VSS) and the Vietnam Post Corporation held a meeting in Hanoi on November 15 to review the pilot application of information technology (IT) for paying monthly retirement pensions and social insurance allowances in cash.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance and VSS Director General Nguyen Thi Minh, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Minh Hong, VSS Deputy Director General Nguyen Dinh Khuong, Chairman of the Vietnam Post’s Member Council Do Ngoc Binh, and Vietnam Post Director General Pham Anh Tuan. It also attracted representatives from departments of the Government Office, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, along with some units of VSS, Vietnam Post, and their subsidiaries in Hanoi and Hai Duong province.

Deputy Minister of Finance and VSS Director General Nguyen Thi Minh delivers an opening speech at the meeting (Source: Viet Nam Social Security)

Opening the event, Deputy Minister of Finance and VSS Director General Nguyen Thi Minh said since May 2017, VSS and Vietnam Post have coordinated to pilot the application of IT in paying monthly retirement pensions and social insurance allowances in cash in Thanh Tri district (Hanoi) and Binh Giang district (Hai Duong province). 

As a result, administrative procedures regarding social insurance recipients have been streamlined while better conditions have been created for beneficiaries to receive their monthly retirement pensions and social insurance allowances. The IT application has helped post offices manage recipients. The settlement of payments between post offices and VSS agencies has been made in a timely manner using a database of recipients.

The VSS Director General stressed that the pilot application of IT is a prerequisite for VSS and Vietnam Post to continue coordination and to consider expanding the use of IT across their networks nationwide.

Delegates at the meeting (Source: Viet Nam Social Security) 

Reporting on the pilot IT application, Deputy Director of VSS’s Finance-Accounting Department Pham Thanh Du said the use of IT in paying monthly retirement pensions and social insurance allowances means using cards to receive retirement pensions and monthly social insurance allowances (also called payment cards). Personal information and photos of recipients are updated and saved on payment cards and managed on the IT system. Post and VSS agencies can also easily access and manage information about recipients on the IT system.

Regarding the future implementation of the plan, Du said VSS and Vietnam Post will continue piloting in the two districts in 2017 and expand to other areas of Hanoi and Hai Duong province in the first quarter of 2018.

Do Ngoc Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Post’s Member Council, speaks at the conference (Source: Viet Nam Social Security)

Do Ngoc Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Post’s Member Council, said the corporation has studied the building of the electronic payment system for two years. In the future, it will continue investing in infrastructure, equipment, information technology, and human resources training to apply the system nationwide.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Minh Hong speaks at the conference (Source: Viet Nam Social Security)

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Minh Hong recognised VSS’s efforts in applying information-technology in recent years, demonstrated by its leaping by 18 places to rank second in the ICT Index 2017.

The coordination between VSS and Vietnam Post also shows the modernisation of public services to bring practical benefits to people and ensure their social security rights and interests, he added.

Deputy Minister of Finance and VSS Director General Nguyen Thi Minh concluded that with initial positive outcomes and hope of bringing practical benefits to people, VSS will work more closely with Vietnam Post to promote the achievements while addressing shortcomings to ensure the effective implementation. Minh noted that the expansion should be carried out carefully and based on evaluations from citizens to perform appropriate adjustments.

It is necessary to increase communication campaigns to help the public better understand and support this services, she added.

International Cooperation Department