Director of Vietnam Social Security Le Hung Son: Vietnam Social Security has made a breakthrough in reforming its organizational structure, improving service quality, and aiming for universal social insurance coverage.

PV: Looking back over the years since Decision 1676/QD-TTg was issued, what specific plans and results has Vietnam Social Security had in expanding social insurance coverage and serving participants, sir?

Director of Vietnam Social Security Le Hung Son: On November 21, 2019, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1676/QD-TTg approving the Project on comprehensive innovation of content, form and methods of social insurance propaganda; in which May of each year is chosen as the Month of mobilizing the implementation of universal social insurance.

Decision No. 1676/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister has created a clear and strong direction for the work of propaganda and mobilization of people to participate in social insurance. Since this Decision took effect, Vietnam Social Security has deployed a series of synchronous and comprehensive solutions to raise people's awareness of the role and significance of social insurance, while creating the most favorable conditions for people to access and participate in the social insurance system.

To implement the Prime Minister's directive, Vietnam Social Security has diversified communication channels, from traditional media such as newspapers, television, radio to digital platforms, social networks, and mobile applications. The propaganda content is designed to be concise, easy to understand, focusing on practical benefits with messages that are close, easy to remember, and easy to understand; focusing on conveying information accurately, promptly, and with strong influence, creating consensus and support from the whole society.

Thoroughly implementing the spirit of Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW dated May 23, 2018 on reforming social insurance policies: Implementing social insurance policies well is the task of the entire political system, the responsibility of Party committees and local authorities, Vietnam Social Security has directed social insurance agencies of provinces and cities to proactively advise the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee to issue many directive documents and establish Steering Committees for implementing social insurance and health insurance policies at all levels. Localities have included the target of developing social insurance participants in the annual and periodic socio-economic development plans of the locality. Many provinces and cities also have policies to provide additional support for voluntary social insurance participants from the local budget. To date, 63/63 provinces and cities with 100% of communes have established Steering Committees for implementing social insurance and health insurance policies; 34/63 provinces have included targets on social insurance coverage rate, 62/63 provinces have included health insurance coverage targets in local socio-economic development targets; 23/63 provinces have allocated budget to provide additional support for voluntary social insurance participants (not including forces participating in security and order protection at the grassroots level), 63/63 provinces have allocated budget to provide additional support for health insurance participants...

Specifically, the whole country witnessed a breakthrough growth after nearly 5 years in the number of people participating in social insurance. In 2020, 16.188 million people participated in social insurance, by 2023 this number was 18.418 million people. By the end of 2024, the number of people participating in social insurance reached 20.159 million people, accounting for 42.71% of the working-age workforce; steadily moving towards achieving the target set out in Resolution 28-NQ/TW of the Central Committee.

In particular, the number of people participating in voluntary social insurance has also grown remarkably. In 2019, the growth in the number of people participating in voluntary social insurance was equal to the total number of participants in the previous 11 years combined. By 2020, the whole country had 1.125 million people participating in voluntary social insurance and this number reached 2.311 million people in 2024 (twice as much as in 2020), equivalent to 4.9% of the working-age workforce (farmers and informal sector workers, exceeding 2.3% compared to the target for the period up to 2025 in Resolution 28-NQ/TW of the Central Executive Committee).

Regarding service to participants, Vietnam Social Security has regularly and continuously focused on reforming administrative procedures and applying information technology to create maximum convenience for people when participating in and enjoying social insurance policies. Business processes have been simplified, many online public services have been provided, helping people save time and costs when transacting with social insurance agencies. In particular, the deployment of the VssID application - Social Insurance number has brought many conveniences to participants in tracking information, looking up social insurance payment history and enjoying social insurance.

In 2024, Vietnam Social Security will pay pensions and monthly social insurance benefits to more than 3.3 million people (of which, the Social Security agency will directly pay through personal accounts for 70% of beneficiaries nationwide); resolve new monthly benefits for 113,005 people; 1,388,525 people will receive one-time social insurance benefits; 9,089,560 people will receive sickness, maternity, convalescence, and health recovery benefits; coordinate to resolve 910,102 people receiving unemployment benefits and vocational training support. In 2024, the whole country will have 183.6 million people receiving inpatient and outpatient health insurance treatment.

Reporter: Sir, Vietnam Social Security has just made an important change in its organizational structure according to Decision 391/QD-BTC of the Minister of Finance. So, in the context of this new apparatus, how will Vietnam Social Security continue to implement the National Social Security Campaign Month in 2025 to achieve the highest efficiency in expanding social security coverage and ensuring benefits for participants?

Director of Vietnam Social Security Le Hung Son: Implementing the policies and directions of the Central Steering Committee, the Government Steering Committee and the direction of the Ministry of Finance on summarizing the implementation of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017, Vietnam Social Security seriously organized the implementation with the highest determination, taking drastic actions to continue to innovate and reorganize the apparatus of the Vietnam Social Security system to be streamlined, effective and efficient. As a result of the reorganization and streamlining of the apparatus, the entire Vietnam Social Security system reduced from 1,470 units to 747 focal units (a decrease of 723 units, equivalent to 49.2%).

Immediately after reorganizing the entire apparatus of the Vietnam Social Security system, the Minister of Finance directly directed the units to overcome all difficulties, focus on performing political tasks, and best serve the workers and people. With the advantage of centralized data sources and business processes processed in the electronic environment, the operation of the Social Security agency under the new apparatus from the central to local levels achieved the goal of effectiveness, efficiency, and streamlining, without major difficulties or problems; the functions and tasks of each unit were clearly defined by the Ministry of Finance, decentralization and delegation of authority were promoted, ensuring the rights of policy participants and beneficiaries; affirming that the Party's policy on reorganizing and streamlining the apparatus is completely correct.

During the 2025 National Social Insurance Campaign Month, Vietnam Social Security will continue to strengthen propaganda and mobilize people to participate in social insurance more extensively and effectively. In particular, the implementation of direct communication activities at the grassroots level, reaching closer to people and workers, especially in rural areas and the informal labor sector, is always focused on promoting. Combining traditional methods and modern communication, making the most of information channels and digital technology. Propaganda content continues to focus on clarifying the practical benefits of participating in social insurance, especially voluntary social insurance, such as the opportunity to receive pensions when retiring, being granted free health insurance cards, and other regimes such as death benefits. In addition, attention is also paid to conveying the outstanding new points of social insurance policies from 2025, especially the Social Insurance Law 2024 which takes effect from July 1, 2025.

Vietnam Social Security also directed regional and inter-district social security agencies to continue to strengthen coordination with local Party committees, authorities, and socio-political organizations to implement advocacy activities in a synchronous and effective manner.

In the context of streamlining and operating under a new organizational structure, with the consistent viewpoint of "taking people and businesses as the center of service", Vietnam Social Security will pay special attention to reviewing and simplifying administrative procedures, promoting the application of information technology and digital transformation so that people can easily conduct transactions with social security agencies in a digital environment, helping to save time and costs.

In the month of mobilizing social insurance for all people in 2025, Vietnam Social Security will continue to strengthen propaganda and mobilize people to participate in social insurance more widely and effectively.

PV: Along with the activities in the National Social Insurance Campaign Month, in the coming time, what strategic solutions will Vietnam Social Security have to continue expanding social insurance coverage and improving the quality of service to the people?

Director of Vietnam Social Security Le Hung Son: To achieve the goal of expanding social insurance coverage, especially voluntary social insurance, and improving the quality of service to people in the context of the new organizational structure, Vietnam Social Security will implement a number of long-term and sustainable strategic solutions:

Firstly, advising on perfecting social insurance policies: Vietnam Social Insurance will improve the quality of practical summarization, impact assessment, and timely advise competent authorities on drafting guiding documents and implementing the Social Insurance Law 2024, in the direction of increasing attractiveness and flexibility, creating more favorable conditions for participants, especially voluntary social insurance.

Second, closely follow the direction of local Party committees and authorities; at the same time, closely coordinate with relevant departments, branches and units to disseminate, guide and organize the implementation of new policies according to the provisions of the Social Insurance Law 2024 and related documents. Continue to advise the People's Councils of provinces and cities on policies to support additional voluntary social insurance contributions for participants to promote increased coverage; at the same time, maintain and improve the quality of operations of the Steering Committees for implementing social insurance and health insurance policies at all levels.

Third, innovating and improving the effectiveness of communication work: Vietnam Social Security has been and will continue to apply many new and creative communication methods suitable for each target group. This includes increasing the use of online communication channels, social networks, mobile phone application platforms, building attractive and accessible communication content, helping people and workers better understand their rights and responsibilities, and practical benefits when participating in social insurance. In addition, the entire system continues to strengthen 1-1 communication and advocacy to directly reach each person, so that people have a deep understanding of the policy, trust in the policy and the organization and implementation of the policy of the social security agency, thereby feeling secure and voluntarily participating as an essential need.

Fourth, improving service quality and reforming administrative procedures: With the new organizational structure, Vietnam Social Security will focus on standardizing business processes, ensuring smooth coordination between levels in the system. The industry will continue to promote the application of information technology and digital transformation in all activities, from registration and payment of social insurance to resolving policies and providing information and online services. The goal is to build a modern, user-friendly electronic social insurance system, helping people and businesses easily access and use online services. Vietnam Social Security will continue to listen to feedback from people, workers and businesses to continuously improve and enhance service quality.

Fifth, strengthening management and supervision: Vietnam Social Security will continue to strengthen inspection and examination to ensure that the implementation of social insurance policies is serious and in accordance with regulations, prevent late payment, evasion of payment, and profiteering from social insurance funds, protect the legitimate rights and interests of employees; strictly control social insurance management costs, and ensure effective use of resources to best serve participants and beneficiaries.

Sixth, developing a team of professional and dedicated staff: Vietnam Social Security recognizes that the staff, civil servants, public employees, and workers are the key factor determining the success of all activities. In the coming time, Vietnam Social Security will further strengthen the decentralization and delegation of authority, ensuring clear people, clear work, clear time, clear results; improve professional capacity, as well as sense of responsibility and service spirit of the staff, civil servants, public employees, and workers in the whole industry, meeting the requirements of tasks in the new situation.

I believe that, with these synchronous and drastic strategic solutions, Vietnam Social Security will continue to achieve positive results in expanding social insurance coverage, completing and exceeding assigned targets and tasks, and increasingly improving the quality of service to people, workers, and businesses, contributing to the successful implementation of the goal of universal social insurance and ensuring sustainable social security for the country.

PV: Thank you very much!