Promoting voluntary social insurance policies to self-employed workers.

Peaceful old age

After many years 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 district), retired, leaving behind her daily work to return home to take care of her family and grandchildren. She feels even more secure knowing that she receives a monthly pension of nearly 2.5 million VND to cover her living expenses.

Three years ago, she made the right decision by contributing to voluntary social insurance for an additional 3 years and 8 months to meet the 20-year requirement stipulated by the State, instead of applying for a lump-sum social insurance payment like some of her colleagues. “At that time, my family was facing difficulties, so I considered whether to continue contributing to voluntary social insurance to meet the required time for a pension or to receive a lump-sum payment of over 120 million VND to address immediate financial problems. However, after consulting with relatives and the factory's human resources department, I decided to borrow money to participate in voluntary social insurance. Now I have received my pension for three months and also been given a health insurance card for healthcare, so I can enjoy a peaceful old age,” Ms. Vân shared.

Initially considering withdrawing her social insurance contributions in a lump sum due to declining health and needing early retirement, Ms. Tran Thi Truc, an environmental sanitation worker in Thuan Hoa district, decided to continue contributing to voluntary social insurance after being advised by a social insurance collection officer to ensure a pension in her old age. She started contributing 880,000 VND per month. After 5 years and 2 months of voluntary social insurance, along with her mandatory social insurance contributions at her workplace, Ms. Truc now receives over 2.3 million VND per month – the "sweet reward" of her careful saving and accumulation of savings.

Voluntary social insurance policies are becoming increasingly accessible, trusted, and chosen by the public, especially by self-employed workers who do not have the means to participate in mandatory social insurance. This policy is even more significant for those who previously participated in mandatory social insurance at their agency, unit, or enterprise but have not yet accumulated enough contribution time to receive a pension upon reaching retirement age.

Strengthen tripartite coordination

In 2024, the number of people participating in voluntary social insurance reached over 31,650, an increase of 5,733 people (22.11%) compared to the end of 2023, achieving 101.31% of the target set by Vietnam Social Insurance. Although the number of people participating in voluntary social insurance increased, it is still low compared to the target set by Vietnam Social Insurance.

According to Ms. Bui Thi Thu Ly, Deputy Director of the Social Insurance Department of Hue City, the informal labor sector is the largest and most important "potential" area for the development of voluntary social insurance. However, the unique characteristic of this sector, where workers have low and unstable incomes, is a significant obstacle and challenge. Therefore, the Social Insurance Department of Hue City will focus on building public trust in social insurance policies in general and voluntary social insurance in particular by comprehensively reforming the content, form, and methods of social insurance communication in accordance with Decision No. 1676 of the Prime Minister.

Notably, the role of units under the signed tripartite coordination regulations, including the Social Insurance agency, the People's Committees of communes, wards, and towns, and the collection service organization, will be strengthened through organizing customer conferences and small-group outreach. Along with this, communication activities will help people and workers understand their rights and benefits of participating in social insurance based on a correct, complete, and in-depth understanding of the Party's guidelines and viewpoints, and the State's policies and laws on social insurance, thereby creating consensus and encouraging proactive participation.

Ms. Ly emphasized that, in order to attract self-employed workers to participate in voluntary social insurance, the city's Social Insurance agency will continue to strengthen its advisory role to Party committees and authorities at all levels to leverage the strength of the entire political system in implementing voluntary social insurance and family health insurance policies in accordance with the Politburo's directives. This includes focusing on assigning responsibility to grassroots Party organizations, Party committees, and leaders, as well as further enhancing the effectiveness of the Steering Committees at all levels, especially in disseminating information about voluntary social insurance policies to individual citizens. Simultaneously, the agency will proactively coordinate with relevant departments, agencies, and organizations to implement the plans and programs for promoting voluntary social insurance policies that were signed in 2024.

Another important task is to coordinate with the City Farmers' Association and the City Women's Union to sign and implement a cooperation program to organize customer conferences, conduct small-group outreach, and assign targets to each district-level farmers' and women's association to develop participation. At the same time, coordinate with the Religious Affairs Department to organize outreach conferences for people in religious groups to encourage participation in voluntary social insurance, bringing insurance policies closer to the people and contributing to ensuring social security in the area.

Text and photos: Khanh Thu