Voluntary social insurance - an important foundation towards the goal of universal social insurance
(Baonghean) - Voluntary social insurance is a type of social insurance organized by the State in which people voluntarily participate, choose the contribution level and payment method suitable to their income and are supported by the State with a part of the social insurance contribution so that participants can enjoy retirement and death benefits.
In Nghe An province, voluntary social insurance is gradually affirming its important role in implementing the goal of universal social insurance.
Self-employed worker's savings
Ms. Hoang Thi Binh in Nam Cat commune (Nam Dan) participated in the Farmers' Social Insurance from 1999 to 2009, then participated in voluntary social insurance. In 2016, she turned 55 years old, after making a one-time payment for the missing years, she received a pension. Since then, the State has adjusted her salary twice and the pension she receives is nearly 1 million VND/month.
“In the past, when I joined the Farmers’ Social Insurance, the monthly payment was only a few tens of thousands; now I have millions, that’s a lot. I feel very confident to enjoy my old age with my children and grandchildren. I have money to buy my grandchildren some gifts, and I can rest assured about my medical treatment thanks to the free health insurance card,” Ms. Hoang Thi Binh shared.
 |
| Propaganda about voluntary social insurance policy for people at Quy Hop district market. Photo: Thanh Quang |
In Nghe An province, it is easy to find pensioners like Ms. Binh and Ms. Chau. And even easier to find are freelancers who are participating in voluntary social insurance. Most people understand this policy, and thus proactively participate in voluntary social insurance for themselves and their family members.
“The contribution level is low, suitable for the economy of rural people; flexible payment method; when you are old, you will have a pension, which is adjusted to increase every year; you will have a health insurance card to go to the doctor for medical examination and treatment… Consider it as participating when you are young so that you can have a comfortable and leisurely old age”, said Ms. Cao Thi Hue, a trader in Dien Ky commune (Dien Chau).
Important solutions to achieve the goal of universal social insurance
Determining the importance of increasing the rate of people participating in voluntary social insurance in gradually implementing the goal of universal social insurance in the spirit of Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW dated May 23, 2018 of the Party Central Committee on reforming social insurance policies, based on the analysis of the actual situation in the locality, in recent times, the provincial Social Insurance has implemented many synchronous solutions to increase the rate of people participating in voluntary social insurance.
 |
| Propaganda about voluntary social insurance policy for people in Nghi Loc district. Photo: Provincial Social Insurance |
In addition to proactive advisory work, the provincial Social Insurance has worked with sectors, socio-political organizations, and unions in the area to strengthen coordination and improve the effectiveness of collection agents - the extended arm of the Social Insurance sector, bringing policies to a large number of people in residential areas. Taking advantage of the advantages of Facebook in communication work has been applied and promoted effectively by Social Insurance sector officials as well as Social Insurance collection agent staff.
Immediately after the Covid-19 pandemic subsided, the Social Insurance sector continued to deploy oral and direct propaganda. In particular, in this May - the Month of Mobilizing the implementation of Social Insurance for all people under the direction of the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1676/QD-TTg dated November 29, 2019 on approving the Project on comprehensive innovation of content, form and methods of Social Insurance propaganda, the Social Insurance sector from the province to the district has promoted propaganda work, conveying the most specific messages about the meaning and long-term purpose of participating in voluntary Social Insurance.
 |
| Nghe An launched a campaign to respond to the Month of promoting the implementation of social insurance for all people. Photo: Provincial Social Insurance |
As of 5:00 p.m. on May 23, 2020, the whole province had directly communicated and consulted over 1,200 people, mobilizing 590 people to register for voluntary social insurance, 498 people paid immediately after being consulted. On May 24, 2020, direct communication groups mobilized 248 more people to participate, bringing the total number of people participating in voluntary social insurance on May 23 and 24, 2020 to 838 people.
This result is a source of encouragement and motivation for the provincial Social Insurance sector and the Post Office to continue implementing many solutions to complete the targets assigned by Vietnam Social Insurance in 2020; towards the goal of "All people have pensions and health care when they are old".
 |
| Propaganda, mobilization and registration procedures for voluntary social insurance for people right at home. Photo: Provincial Social Insurance |
According to the assessment of Vietnam Social Security, as of April 30, 2020, Nghe An is the leading locality nationwide in terms of the number of people participating in voluntary social insurance as well as the rate of completion of the assigned plan targets for 2020. The whole province has 51,683 people participating in voluntary social insurance, reaching 70.01% of the target assigned by Vietnam Social Security in 2020; an increase of 9,754 people compared to the same period last year. It is estimated that by the end of May 2020, the whole province has nearly 1,600 people participating in voluntary social insurance under the new increase.
In order to expand the subjects participating in voluntary social insurance, in the coming time, the provincial Social Insurance will continue to advise the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, Provincial People's Committee and closely coordinate with socio-political organizations and unions in the area to bring voluntary social insurance policies closer to the people; constantly innovate the content, form and methods of propaganda, including strengthening the organization of propaganda conferences in localities, especially in districts that have not met the assigned targets.
In the long term, Nghe An Social Insurance in particular and Vietnam Social Insurance in general need to have policies to develop agents, voluntary social insurance consultants as well as organize voluntary social insurance conferences in a more professional manner; have flexible policies and mechanisms to encourage people to work as voluntary social insurance agents. To contribute to ensuring social security, the Government needs to have policies to support part of the funding to "stimulate" the poor and near-poor to buy voluntary social insurance...
Along with that, it is very necessary to have the attention and strong direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels. In particular, one of the important solutions is to assign targets and obtain results of implementing targets for developing voluntary social insurance participants for commune and district authorities, which is one of the important political tasks at the grassroots level.
