Voluntary social insurance - a support for freelance workers

Voluntary social insurance (VSI) policies are increasingly playing an important role in protecting the rights and stabilizing the lives of self-employed workers. In particular, the new regulations on death benefits for voluntary social insurance participants of 60 months or more are considered a highlight of profound humanity.

Ms. Huynh Thi Nhu (Hoa Xuan commune) is a farmer and a small trader. After learning about the voluntary social insurance policy and receiving advice from the commune People's Committee and social insurance staff at her home, she registered to participate with a monthly contribution of 138,600 VND. Ms. Nhu shared: "Although my current life is just enough to eat, I still try to save money to participate in voluntary social insurance so that when I am old, I will have a pension like a civil servant."

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Tan Thiet (Xuan Phuoc commune) works as a motorbike repairman at home. Recently, after being promoted by social insurance staff, he joined voluntary social insurance. Realizing that this is a superior policy, with both material and spiritual significance, he actively encouraged his neighbors to join. Mr. Thiet confided: “Voluntary social insurance is a humane policy, helping freelance workers to accumulate, and later receive a pension and health insurance. This not only has material value but is also a spiritual support, helping me feel secure and live without depending on my children and grandchildren.”

Tuy An Bac Social Insurance staff are consulting voluntary social insurance policies for people.

Like Ms. Nhu and Mr. Thiet, Ms. Huynh Thi Nang (O Loan commune) is worried about her old age due to not having a pension and not having a stable income. Although she is over 60 years old and no longer eligible for pension, Ms. Nang still decided to participate in voluntary social insurance for 5 years so that she can receive a one-time death benefit policy later. "I just hope that in the future I will have some money for my children and grandchildren to take care of the funeral, without having to borrow money. That is also a way to take care of myself and reduce the burden on my children and grandchildren," Ms. Nang confided.

If a voluntary social insurance participant has participated in social insurance for 60 months or more, if he/she passes away, his/her relatives will receive a funeral allowance equal to 10 times the basic salary at the time of death and a death benefit calculated based on the number of years the deceased has paid social insurance, each year of payment is calculated equivalent to 2 months of average salary.

According to Mr. Le Huy Trung, Director of Tuy An Bac Social Insurance, according to the provisions of the Social Insurance Law 2024, if a voluntary social insurance participant has participated in social insurance for 60 months or more, if he/she passes away, his/her relatives will receive a funeral allowance equal to 10 times the basic salary at the time of death and a death benefit calculated based on the number of years the deceased has paid social insurance, each year of payment is calculated equivalent to 2 months of average salary. This is considered a big plus point of the voluntary social insurance policy, especially for the elderly or those who are not eligible for pensions.

However, to attract a large number of people to participate in voluntary social insurance, especially freelance workers, the provincial Social Insurance needs to continue to innovate propaganda methods so that people understand and participate in voluntary social insurance. Especially in rural areas, local Social Insurance needs to actively coordinate with local authorities to integrate into communication sessions in residential areas, market places, etc.

According to the provisions of the Law on Social Insurance 2024, the subjects participating in voluntary social insurance include: Vietnamese citizens aged 15 and over who are not subject to compulsory social insurance and are not recipients of pensions, social insurance benefits, or monthly allowances; employees who are temporarily suspending the performance of labor contracts or work contracts, except in cases where the two parties have an agreement on compulsory social insurance contributions during this period. The monthly contribution level of social insurance participants is equal to 22% of the income used as the basis for voluntary social insurance contributions to the pension and death benefit fund. The income used as the basis for voluntary social insurance contributions is at least equal to the poverty line for rural areas and at most 20 times the reference level at the time of contribution.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/chinh-sach-xa-hoi/chinh-sach-bhxh-bhyt/202509/bao-hiem-xa-hoi-tu-nguyen-diem-tua-cho-lao-dong-tu-do-47813e3/