Expanding the entire range of social policies to all groups

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pointed out that one of the very important new points of Resolution 42 is that it has expanded to all social policy groups for all subjects - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

On the morning of December 4, at the National Conference to study and disseminate the Resolution of the 8th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a speech on the topic: Continuing to innovate and improve the quality of social policies to meet the requirements of national construction and defense in the new period.

At the 8th Central Conference of the 13th tenure, the Central Executive Committee closely followed the Party Platform, the Constitution, the Party's viewpoints and orientations on social policies through the Congresses, especially the 13th Congress and the results of summarizing 10 years of implementing Resolution No. 15-NQ/TW dated June 1, 2012 on a number of social policy issues, spent a lot of time discussing democratically and reached a high consensus to issue a new Resolution (Resolution No. 42-NQ/TW dated November 24, 2023) on "Continuing to innovate and improve the quality of social policies to meet the requirements of national construction and defense in the new period".

Presenting a special topic on this content at the Conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh focused on a number of key, core issues of the Resolution, with 5 main contents: Fundamental elements of social policy; general assessment of 10 years of implementing Resolution No. 15-NQ/TW dated June 1, 2012; the necessity of issuing a Resolution on innovation and improving the quality of social policy; main contents of Resolution No. 42-NQ/TW; outstanding new points of Resolution No. 42-NQ/TW.

The fundamentals of social policy

Regarding the fundamental elements of social policy, the Prime Minister stated that the Platform for National Construction in the Transitional Period to Socialism (Supplemented and Developed in 2011) summarized five main lessons: (1) Firmly grasp the flag of national independence and socialism; (2) The revolutionary cause is of the people, by the people and for the people; (3) Constantly consolidate and enhance solidarity (unity of the entire Party, unity of the entire people, national solidarity, international solidarity); (4) Combine national strength with the strength of the times, domestic strength with international strength; (5) The correct leadership of the Party is the leading factor determining the victory of the Vietnamese revolution.

Along with that, focus on building 3 fundamental elements: (1) Socialist democracy, promoting the will and strength of great national unity, combined with the strength of the times; (2) Socialist rule of law state - a state of the people, by the people, for the people; (3) Socialist-oriented market economy. The Platform clearly states: "Correct and fair social policies for the people are a strong driving force to promote all creative capacities of the people in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland".

Taking time to analyze the Party and State's guidelines and policies on a number of key areas (Party building, socio-economic development, foreign affairs, national defense and security, and culture), the Prime Minister stated that the 13th National Party Congress clearly identified three strategic breakthroughs in institutions, human resources, and infrastructure; in which human resources are identified as the key factor for sustainable development.

According to the Prime Minister, all the above fundamental factors are related to people, to the people. The consistent principle: People are the center of social policy - all for people, for the people. Taking people as the center, the subject, the most important resource, the driving force and the goal of development; not sacrificing progress, social justice and environmental protection in exchange for mere economic growth.

Policy is a policy of caring for people; is a regular and important task of the Party, the State, the entire political system and the whole society; demonstrates the characteristics and good nature of the socialist regime; economic growth is associated with ensuring social policies; creating conditions for people to enjoy the fruits of the cause of innovation, national development, improving the quality of life, contributing to building and defending the Fatherland.

According to the Prime Minister, this is a large, wide-ranging field of great significance, affecting all classes of people and the whole society, and is being implemented at all levels, sectors, and localities.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a speech on the topic: Continuing to innovate and improve the quality of social policies to meet the requirements of national construction and protection in the new period - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Spend 20% of total state budget expenditure on social policy

The Prime Minister affirmed that after 10 years of implementing Resolution 15 on a number of social policy issues for the 2012-2020 period, we have basically achieved the set general goals.

Specifically, first, preferential policies and honoring people with revolutionary contributions are given special attention and implemented well . The target group of people with revolutionary contributions is expanded with appropriate preferential policies and regimes. Currently, there are over 1.2 million people with revolutionary contributions and their relatives enjoying monthly preferential regimes; 98.6% of families with revolutionary contributions have a standard of living equal to or higher than the average standard of living in the area.

Second, ensuring social security has shifted from humanitarian assistance to ensuring citizens' social security rights . The number of people receiving regular social assistance has increased annually and reached 3.3 million people in 2022. In the 3 years of preventing and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, over 120,000 billion VND and over 200,000 tons of rice have been provided to over 68 million people and workers in difficulty.

The State plays a leading role, while mobilizing and promoting the important role of enterprises, social organizations, the market and the people's will for self-reliance. About 20% of the total annual state budget has been allocated to social policies.

Labor market institutions have been gradually improved; labor supply and demand are basically guaranteed. Unemployment rate is stable at below 3%, urban unemployment is below 4%.

Third, poverty reduction has achieved remarkable results; people's lives have been increasingly improved . The poverty rate has decreased from nearly 60% in 1986 to less than 3% in 2022. GDP per capita has increased from 86 USD in 1986 to 4,110 USD in 2022.

Vietnam has achieved the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ahead of schedule; it is a bright spot globally, recognized and highly appreciated by the people of the whole country and the international community.

Fourth, the coverage of social insurance and unemployment insurance is constantly expanding. In 2022, the social insurance participation rate will reach 38.08% and unemployment insurance will reach 31.18% of the working-age workforce; the voluntary social insurance participation rate is increasing (to date reaching 1.46 million people).

Fifth, people have increasingly better access to basic social services. Regarding education, the rate of children attending primary school at the right age has reached 99% since 2015, and at secondary school has reached over 95% since 2020.

By 2022, 92% of people will participate in health insurance; 90% of children under 1 year old will be fully vaccinated... Regarding housing, by 2020, housing support will be provided for 648,000 poor rural households, 323,000 houses for the poor and people in difficult circumstances. By 2021, 90% of rural people will have access to clean water.

Regarding access to information, in 2016, 100% of communes in mountainous, remote, border and island areas will be covered by terrestrial radio and television; by 2020, 100% of communes will have radio stations...

In general, the material and spiritual life of people across the country has been significantly improved; the social landscape has fundamentally changed; political security, order and social safety have been maintained; the economy and society have developed more comprehensively and harmoniously; bringing satisfaction and strengthening people's trust, affirming the superiority of the socialist regime in our country under the leadership of the Party.

Regarding the limitations and shortcomings, the Prime Minister pointed out that the coverage and risk-solving capacity of social policies are still low; poverty reduction results in some places and at some times are not stable, the risk of falling back into poverty is still high; the development of the labor market is not really synchronous, the breakthrough in human resources has not changed clearly, especially high-quality human resources; basic social services have not met people's needs well; the capacity and resources for environmental protection, response to natural disasters, epidemics and climate change are still limited...

Choosing a social policy model suitable to the characteristics, conditions and circumstances of the country

After analyzing the causes of the achieved results, limitations, shortcomings, and some lessons learned, the Prime Minister said that the world situation in the coming time is forecast to continue to develop in a complex and unpredictable manner.

Domestically, the economy continues to suffer from the "double impact" of external unfavorable factors and internal limitations and shortcomings. We are facing many huge challenges in social development management (such as housing issues, environmental pollution, climate change, infrastructure overload, unemployment, rich-poor gap, population aging, security risks, social order and safety, etc.).

The rapid aging of the population poses major challenges in ensuring social security for the elderly and labor supply. Climate change, natural disasters, and epidemics continue to develop unpredictably, causing serious consequences. Vietnam is among the top 5 countries most seriously affected by global climate change.

Regarding the need to issue a new Resolution on innovation and improving the quality of social policies, the Prime Minister said that after 10 years of implementing Resolution 15, we have basically achieved the set general goals; however, there are still limitations and shortcomings that need to be focused on and resolved as soon as possible.

Along with that, the requirements of innovation and national development in the new period require continuing to expand, innovate and improve the quality of social policies, meeting the increasing demands for improving the material and spiritual life of the people.

The new context and practice of social development management have posed an urgent need to continue reviewing, perfecting, and building a more comprehensive, multi-layered, modern, inclusive, and sustainable social security policy, ensuring social security, security, and safety for the people, especially in the face of shocks and efforts to strive for the goal of "rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness, and civilization".

Along with the development of the country, people's demand for enjoying social policies is increasingly higher in both quantity and quality, including access to basic social services.

The Resolution of the 13th National Congress requires full awareness and assurance of socialist orientation in social policies; strengthening social development management, ensuring social progress and equity, sustainability in social policies, especially social welfare, social security, and human security. Synchronously and comprehensively deploy economic, progress, social equity and environmental goals, on that basis, innovate and allocate resources reasonably to improve the effectiveness of social development. Synchronously build and implement social development institutions and policies, and manage sustainable and harmonious social development.

Analyzing some typical social policy models in the world today, the Prime Minister stated that we choose a social policy model that is suitable to the characteristics, conditions, and circumstances of our country.

Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

9 groups of tasks and solutions that are comprehensive, systematic and holistic

Presenting the main contents of Resolution 42 (on viewpoints; goals and visions; main tasks and solutions; implementation organization), the Prime Minister also pointed out the outstanding new points of this Resolution.

Regarding the approach and name , Resolution 42 has adjusted the approach, from ensuring and stabilizing to stabilizing and developing; associated with sustainable social development management, improving social welfare for all people, ensuring social security, human security, and social security.

The Resolution harmoniously combines continuing to ensure social security and other social policies to ensure social stability, while focusing on development and social progress through human development, human resource development, and middle class development associated with sustainable social development management and as a driving force for economic development, contributing to building and defending the Fatherland.

On that basis, the name of Resolution No. 42 is determined as "continuing to innovate and improve the quality of social policies, meeting the requirements of national construction and defense in the new period" (Resolution 15 of the Central Committee is called "some issues on social policies for the period 2012-2020").

In terms of scope , Resolution 42 has expanded to all social policy groups for all subjects on the principle of ensuring universality and comprehensiveness, including 5 groups: (1) Preferential policies for people with revolutionary contributions; (2) Labor, employment, and human resource development policies; (3) Social security policies; (4) Policies on improving social welfare and ensuring access to social services; (5) Policies for disadvantaged groups, the poor, ethnic minorities, and people in difficult circumstances in remote areas.

In terms of viewpoints , Resolution 42 puts forward four groups of viewpoints that are both inheritable and promoting, as well as innovative, supplementary, and perfected to suit the situation and practical requirements of national development in the new period.

Resolution 42 emphasizes the following viewpoints: Innovate and improve the quality of social policies in a comprehensive, modern, inclusive and sustainable manner; social policies must be placed in the overall management of sustainable social development; harmoniously resolve social relations, care for people and for people; economic growth is associated with ensuring social policies; investment in social policies is investment for development; innovate State management; strengthen decentralization and delegation of powers. Ensure the leadership of the Party, State management, supervision of elected bodies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations and the people; mobilize the active participation of people and businesses; arouse the aspiration for development, the will to be self-reliant, promote the tradition and spirit of great national unity.

Regarding goals and vision , Resolution 42 clearly defines the general goals by 2030: Building a social policy system towards sustainability, progress and fairness; perfecting a diverse, multi-layered, comprehensive, modern, inclusive and sustainable social security policy; developing a flexible, effective and internationally integrated labor market. At the same time, it sets out 37 specific targets by 2030.

The Resolution defines the vision to 2045: A comprehensive, sustainable, progressive and equitable social policy system, ensuring social security and welfare for the people; being among the countries with high human development index (HDI) in the world.

Regarding the main tasks and solutions , on the basis of inheriting the specific tasks and solutions stated in Resolution 15 and to ensure the implementation of the viewpoints, goals and targets by 2030, with a vision to 2045, Resolution 42 sets out 9 groups of tasks and solutions of a comprehensive, systematic and comprehensive nature on: Raising awareness; improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management; preferential policies for people with meritorious services to the revolution; labor and employment; social security; social welfare; social services; international cooperation; strengthening the leadership of the Party, promoting the role of the entire political system in implementing social policies. Meanwhile, Resolution 15 focuses on 3 groups of main tasks and solutions (on preferential policies for people with meritorious services, ensuring social security and implementation solutions).

The Prime Minister pointed out a number of key points to note in Resolution 42 : Focus on building and developing a flexible, diverse, effective, sustainable and integrated labor market (ensuring sustainable employment and improving the quality of human resources). Ensure that all people have access to and enjoy basic social services (education, health care, culture, information, housing, clean water, environmental sanitation).

Regarding social housing construction, it is worth noting the Project to build at least 1 million social houses by 2030; eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses for poor and near-poor households, and people affected by natural disasters... The Prime Minister said that the Government is piloting this in Ha Giang and Cao Bang and strives to complete the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses during this term.

Along with that, build a National Framework on population aging adaptation and replacement fertility adjustment. Strive for Vietnam to be a pioneer country in the Global Promotion Program on Employment and Social Security towards a Just Transition under the initiative of the United Nations and the International Labor Organization (ILO).

The Prime Minister reiterated that at the closing session of the 8th Central Conference, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong pointed out: "Social policy is a policy for people, for people, demonstrating the good nature of our regime. Building and implementing social policy must always take people as the center; considering investment in implementing social policy goals as investment for development".

Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/mo-rong-toan-bo-cac-nhom-chinh-sach-xa-hoi-cho-moi-doi-tuong-366584.html