Propagating voluntary social insurance policy to freelance workers

Peaceful old age

After many years of working at a garment factory in Phu Bai Industrial Park, in September 2024, Ms. Nguyen Thi Cam Van, residing in Thuy Chau ward (Huong Thuy), retired under the regime, leaving behind her daily work to return to take care of her family, take care of her children and grandchildren, and felt even more secure when every month, she received a pension of nearly 2.5 million VND to cover her living expenses.

Three years ago, she made the right decision to pay voluntary social insurance for another 3 years and 8 months to complete the 20-year period as required by the State, and refused to complete the procedures to receive one-time social insurance like some of her colleagues. “At that time, my family was facing difficulties, so I considered whether to continue participating in voluntary social insurance to have enough time to receive pension or to receive one-time social insurance to get over 120 million VND to solve the immediate difficulties. However, after consulting with relatives and the factory's human resources department, I decided to borrow money to participate in voluntary social insurance. I have now received a full 3-month pension and have also been given a health insurance card to take care of my health, so I can live a peaceful old age,” Ms. Van shared.

She had intended to withdraw her social insurance at once after her health deteriorated and she had to apply for early retirement, but when the social insurance collector explained and advised her to continue paying voluntary social insurance to have a pension when she was old, Ms. Tran Thi Truc, an environmental sanitation worker in Thuan Hoa district, participated at the rate of 880,000 VND/month. After 5 years and 2 months of participating in voluntary social insurance along with the time of participating in compulsory social insurance at her unit, now Ms. Truc receives more than 2.3 million VND per month, which is the "sweet fruit" after the process of saving and saving to have "savings".

The voluntary social insurance policy is increasingly close, trusted and chosen by people, especially for freelance workers who do not have the conditions to participate in compulsory social insurance. This policy is even more meaningful for those who have participated in compulsory social insurance at agencies, units, and enterprises when they reach retirement age but do not have enough time to pay to receive pension.

Strengthening tripartite coordination

In 2024, the number of voluntary social insurance participants will reach over 31,650 people, an increase of 5,733 people (up 22.11%) compared to the end of 2023, reaching 101.31% of the target assigned by Vietnam Social Security. Although the number of voluntary social insurance participants has increased, it is still low compared to the target assigned by Vietnam Social Security.

According to Deputy Director of Hue City Social Insurance, Ms. Bui Thi Thu Ly, the informal labor sector is the largest and most important "space" in the development of voluntary social insurance. However, the characteristic of this sector is that the income of workers is low and unstable, which is a significant barrier and challenge. Therefore, the city's Social Insurance will focus on building people's trust in social insurance policies in general and voluntary social insurance in particular by focusing on comprehensively innovating the content, form and method of social insurance propaganda according to Decision No. 1676 of the Prime Minister.

It is noteworthy to strengthen the role of units according to the signed 3-party coordination regulations, including: Social Insurance agencies, People's Committees of communes, wards and towns and Collection Service Organizations to organize customer conferences and propaganda in small groups. Along with that, through communication activities, it will help people and workers clearly understand the rights and benefits of participating in Social Insurance on the basis of correct, complete and profound awareness of the Party's policies and viewpoints, the State's policies and laws on Social Insurance, thereby creating consensus and proactive participation.

Ms. Ly emphasized that in order to attract freelance workers to participate in voluntary social insurance, the city's Social Insurance continues to strengthen its advisory work to Party committees and authorities at all levels to promote the strength of the entire political system in implementing voluntary social insurance and family health insurance policies according to the Politburo's guidelines. In particular, it focuses on assigning responsibilities to grassroots party organizations, Party committees, and leaders as well as further promoting the effectiveness of the Steering Committees at all levels, especially the propaganda work on voluntary social insurance policies to each citizen. At the same time, it proactively coordinates with relevant departments, branches, sectors, and organizations to implement plans and programs to coordinate the propaganda of voluntary social insurance policies that have been signed in 2024.

Another important task is to coordinate with the Farmers' Association and the City Women's Union to sign and implement a program to coordinate the organization of customer conferences, small group propaganda and assign targets to each district-level farmers' and women's association to develop participants. At the same time, coordinate with the Religious Committee to organize propaganda conferences to people participating in religious groups to mobilize the development of voluntary social insurance participants, bring insurance policies closer to the people, and contribute to ensuring social security in the area.

Article and photos: Khanh Thu