Building a 23,000 billion package to support workers

At the end of the questioning session with Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung on the morning of June 6, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc participated in explaining issues of concern to delegates.

Responding to the issue of collecting social insurance from individual business owners for many years, Minister Ho Duc Phoc said that, implementing Decree 01 on expanding social insurance coverage, Vietnam Social Security has provided guidance to a number of provinces on the issue of social insurance payment.

Accordingly, 54 provinces and cities have implemented compulsory insurance collection for 4,200 subjects since 2003, and stopped in 2016. However, there are still more than 1,330 subjects who will continue to pay insurance until 2020.

According to the Minister of Finance, collecting social insurance contributions is inherently ethical and has no problem, but according to legal regulations, it is problematic.

Mr. Phoc analyzed that according to regulations, the subject of social insurance must have a labor contract. However, the business owner is also a direct laborer but does not have a labor contract with anyone, so he is not subject to payment.

“In essence, they are both household heads and direct laborers, so in essence it is acceptable, but the legal regulations are targeting the wrong subjects,” he explained.

Dialogue - Minister of Finance: Building a 23,000 billion package to support workers

Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc (Photo: Quochoi.vn).

Regarding the solution, the Minister said that the Ministry of Finance has discussed with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to amend the Law on Social Insurance to allow business owners to participate in compulsory social insurance.

In addition to the above content, the Minister of Finance also added more information about supporting workers, supplementing the response of Minister Dao Ngoc Dung to the questions of many delegates before.

Mr. Phoc said that in 2021, the State spent 47,356 billion VND from the Unemployment Insurance Fund to support workers affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. By 2023, the remaining fund balance will be 58,357 billion VND.

"We are currently designing and submitting to the Government and the National Assembly to spend about 23,000 billion VND from the Unemployment Insurance Fund to support workers," Mr. Phoc informed and stated that the Social Insurance and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs are especially interested in supporting workers with all policies and mechanisms.

Minister Phuc analyzed that Vietnam's economy is a market economy with socialist orientation, so the labor issue also follows the market.

Therefore, vocational training needs to be based on accurate forecasts, grasp the market, and meet the needs of workers to be successful. In addition, it is necessary to arrange and organize vocational schools to be professional and modern to be successful.

Previously, when questioning Minister Dao Ngoc Dung, delegate Trang A Duong asked whether it was necessary to propose that the Central Government establish a Labor Support Fund such as labor support packages during the pandemic and consider supplementing the National Employment Fund with localities?

Responding, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung said that establishing a fund to support workers is also a solution, but it needs to be thought through thoroughly. The Minister said that when establishing a fund, it is necessary to carefully assess the impact on the basis and effectiveness, report to competent authorities, and even the National Assembly must give permission .

Source