The pivotal role of the social security system

On June 29, 2024, the National Assembly passed the Law on Social Insurance (SI) 2024, effective from July 1, 2025, replacing the SI Law 2014. The SI Law 2024 was issued to institutionalize Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW on reforming SI policies, aiming to make SI the pillar of the social security system, expanding coverage and the goal of universal SI.

Along with the country's development, the social insurance policy has undergone many groundbreaking changes. It can be seen that the Vietnamese social insurance system is increasingly improving towards increasing benefits for participants, in line with the context of socio-economic development and approaching international practices.

The superiority and humanity of the policy are clearly demonstrated through the process of expanding from compulsory social insurance to voluntary social insurance, along with the continuous improvement of workers' rights. This not only brings practical benefits to millions of people but also reflects the trend of reform and sustainable development of the Vietnamese social security system.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Lien, Deputy Director of the Provincial Social Insurance, the 2024 Social Insurance Law increases rights and benefits for beneficiaries.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Lien - Deputy Director of the Provincial Social Insurance: The Social Insurance Law 2024 has many new points and expands the subjects, bringing many benefits to workers, reducing the minimum period of participation in social insurance to receive pensions from 20 years to 15 years. At the same time, it supplements the right to enjoy sickness and maternity benefits for non-professional workers at the commune level, maternity benefits for voluntary social insurance participants; expands the subjects participating in compulsory social insurance, including business owners; ensures social insurance benefits for Vietnamese workers working abroad, foreign workers working in Vietnam; supplements social pension benefits to form a multi-layered social insurance system and monthly allowances for workers who are not eligible for pensions... With many changes, the Social Insurance Law 2024 increases the rights and benefits for beneficiaries, fundamentally amends the difficulties and shortcomings in the implementation of the Social Insurance Law 2014.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hong, the owner of a stationery business in Viet Tri ward, was very happy when the Social Insurance officer informed him about these changes because participating in Social Insurance helps business people have a longer-term guarantee for the future. Mr. Hong said: "Previously, I participated in voluntary Social Insurance, since the new policy of the State, I have paid compulsory Social Insurance and found the benefits very practical, later I will receive pension and many incentives, especially when I am old or unfortunately sick or ill".

Provincial Social Insurance officers advise on insurance policies at businesses.

One of the important new points of the amended Law on Social Insurance is to shorten the minimum social insurance payment period from 20 years to 15 years to receive pension, effective from July 1, 2025. Mr. Nguyen Van Binh, a worker at CMC Joint Stock Company (Thuy Van Industrial Park, Phu Tho) said: "With the nature of heavy work, many people cannot work until retirement age. Now, only need to pay for 15 years to be eligible for pension, the brothers in the company are very excited".

According to experts, this new regulation helps reduce the number of employees withdrawing their social insurance at one time, creating motivation to stick with the business, stabilizing production and contributing to ensuring long-term social security. Not only salaried employees, freelance workers will also benefit from the new policy.

For Mr. Truong Quoc Viet, a freelancer in Viet Tri ward, when he learned that he only needed 15 years of contributions to qualify for a pension, he decided to join voluntary social insurance. This is a humane policy, helping freelancers have support when they retire, with additional health insurance benefits.

Ms. Ngo Thi Ngan Giang is a collection officer of Thien Tam Trading and Service Joint Stock Company - the authorized collection unit of the provincial Social Insurance. After the amended Social Insurance Law took effect, she regularly updated new points and changes in policies, ready to answer and advise people. When people clearly understand their rights, they feel secure and proactively participate. Ms. Giang said: This adjustment creates motivation for social insurance participants, "retaining" workers in the social security system helps them stick with the social insurance policy for a long time to receive pensions.

Social insurance policy always aims to protect workers' rights.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Bich Lien - Deputy Director of the Provincial Social Insurance added: The amended Social Insurance Law in 2024 is a big step forward in reforming social security policies, overcoming many shortcomings of the previous period, and at the same time institutionalizing the direction of multi-layered, flexible and linked social insurance reform to expand coverage in the spirit of Resolution No. 28 of the Central Committee. The most important thing, no matter how it changes, the social insurance policy always aims to protect the rights of workers and people, contributing to building a more equitable, sustainable and humane society.

Trieu Ngoc Toan

Source: https://baophutho.vn/vai-tro-tru-cot-cua-he-thong-an-sinh-xa-hoi-242131.htm