On June 29, 2024, the Vietnamese National Assembly passed the Law on Social Insurance, significantly amending the previous law to expand participation, enhance worker benefits, and address implementation challenges. The amended Health Insurance Law aims to improve healthcare access and rights for participants, reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening social security systems.
On June 29, 2024, the 15th National Assembly of Vietnam passed the Law on Social Insurance No. 41/2024/QH15, introducing significant amendments aimed at modernizing the country’s social insurance system. This legislation represents a comprehensive effort to address the shortcomings of the previous Law on Social Insurance enacted in 2014. The 2024 amendments aim to broaden participation, enhance rights and benefits for workers, and ensure long-term social security for the population. Central to these changes are the objectives of attracting more workers into the social insurance system, addressing existing challenges, and implementing stricter penalties for late payments and evasion of contributions.
In preparation for these significant changes, the Vietnam Social Security (VSS) undertook extensive analyses of social insurance benefits, assessed management practices, and engaged in nationwide surveys with both workers and employers. This approach provided a strong foundation for the draft law, ensuring it was informed by practical experience and realistic demands. The VSS identified critical areas for improvement based on the feedback received, thereby enhancing the legislative process and ensuring that the new law meets the needs of the workforce. The amendment process aligns with the human rights principles outlined in the Vietnamese Constitution and reflects the goals of the 12th Party Central Committee’s Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW. This resolution, dated May 23, 2018, emphasizes the need for reforms in social insurance policies that include diversification, flexibility, modernization, and improved integration with international standards. The proposed changes are also expected to promote gender equality and enhance the overall effectiveness of social insurance policies.
Furthermore, the VSS aims to strengthen regulations that will not only clarify the roles and responsibilities of social insurance offices but also enhance the rights and benefits of participants. This includes initiatives to attract new workers and foster confidence among current participants in the system. By doing this, VSS hopes to create a more comprehensive, effective, and transparent social insurance policy system. In tandem with the efforts to reform social insurance, the National Assembly also addressed health insurance by passing the amended Health Insurance Law on November 27, 2024, during its 8th session. Initially passed in 2008, the Health Insurance Law has been pivotal in increasing health insurance participation across the population, edging towards universal coverage. This achievement underscores the shared risk principle that maintains financial support for healthcare. However, over the years, several issues related to the implementation of the Health Insurance Law emerged, necessitating amendments to address these limitations.
The VSS, deeply engaged with the public and aware of the challenges faced, actively participated in identifying these issues and proposing solutions. The goal was to enhance the rights and interests of health insurance participants and beneficiaries, aligning with the growing healthcare demands of the populace. The introduction of the revised Health Insurance Law builds on VSS’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to health services while addressing the realities of healthcare delivery in Vietnam. This law is a critical step in addressing the ongoing challenges and is a testament to VSS’s continuous advocacy for better health insurance policies through collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders.
In summary, both the Law on Social Insurance 2024 and the amended Health Insurance Law represent significant strides in Vietnam’s commitment to improving social and health insurance frameworks. These legislative changes highlight the government’s focus on enhancing the protection and welfare of its citizens through more inclusive, flexible, and equitable policies. The VSS plays a crucial role in this transformation, ensuring that reforms are not only theoretically sound but grounded in the lived experiences of the Vietnamese people. These comprehensive efforts will lead to a more solid and sustainable social security system that actively responds to the needs and rights of all its participants, ultimately aiming for a society with robust safety nets for its workforce.
