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Deputy PM urges focus on boosting social insurance policy reforms

VGP – Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has asked agencies to focus on addressing shortcomings and weaknesses, and accelerating the reforms of social insurance policies as an important tool, contributing to the effective implementation of social security policies and sustainable development.

November 29, 2017 2:29 PM GMT+7

The deputy PM made the request while addressing an international workshop, co-organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Office for Viet Nam and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, in Ha Noi on November 29, under the theme of “Social Insurance Policy Reforms: International Experience and Recommendations for Viet Nam”.

In his speech, Politburo member Hue emphasized that the Vietnamese Party and State always gives special care to the system of social security policies, with the social insurance policies being one of the system’s most important pillars. 

The National Assembly and Government have issued laws and decrees aimed at reforming and developing social insurance policies in accordance with the socio-economic development level of each period, he stated.

The deputy PM added that up to now, more than 14.6 million people across the country have participated in social insurance, accounting for about 30.4% of the labour force. Annually, four to five million people enjoy short-term social insurance benefits; an additional 150,000 people enjoy long-term benefits; and nearly three million elderly people enjoy monthly pension and social insurance.

Alongside the significant results obtained, social insurance policies still see a number of shortcomings and limitations, Hue said.

He affirmed that the finalization of social insurance policies is among the crucial solutions to continuing finalizing institutions of the socialist-oriented market economy, contributing to renovating Viet Nam’s growth model until 2030, and associating economic growth with ensuring sustainable development and social progress and equality.

The deputy PM expressed his wish that the workshop would assess the current reality of Viet Nam’s social insurance system, whilst focusing on analyzing and clarifying the causes of limitations and weaknesses, as well as the experience drawn in management, regulation and the building and implementation of policies. 

At the workshop, domestic and foreign experts shared their experience concerning the reforms of the social insurance system, putting forward some lessons that match with the domestic socio-economic conditions in Viet Nam so that the country could apply.

                                                                                                            By Vien Nhu