Workers infected with Covid-19 before February 23 will still receive social insurance benefits

Mr. Nguyen Chi Cong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial Labor Federation chaired the conference. Photo: DT

Attending the conference were representatives of the provincial Social Insurance agency, the Department of Health, the Dong Nam Economic Zone Trade Union and a number of enterprises with many workers infected with Covid-19.

In recent days, the number ofF0 is a workerThe number of cases has increased rapidly, because medical facilities are overloaded, many F0s have to self-treat at home. Following the direction of the Department of Health and the provincial Social Insurance agency on the dossier for handling social insurance benefits for cases of employees infected with Covid-19, medical facilities in wards and communes in the province have been authorized to issue certificates of leave from work to receive social insurance benefits.

Previously, because commune-level medical staff were not authorized to issue social insurance leave certificates according to the form prescribed in Circular 56/2017/TT-BYT, making it impossible for employees to complete the procedures to receive social insurance benefits, on February 22, the Dong Nam Economic Zone Trade Union sent a written petition to Nghe An Provincial Social Insurance and Nghe An Department of Health.

On February 23, the Department of Health and the provincial Social Insurance agency issued a document directing the Commune/Ward/Town Health Station to issue the necessary documents for employees to enjoy social insurance benefits when the employee or the employee's child is infected with F0. Accordingly, the application for social insurance benefits when the employee or the employee's child is infected with F0 includes:

- List of requests for settlement of sick leave, maternity leave, and health recovery benefits (Form 01B-HSB; prepared by the employer);

- Hospital discharge papers (original or copy) of the employee or the employee's child in case of inpatient treatment;

- Certificate of leave to enjoy social insurance (original) in case of outpatient treatment.

Hospital discharge papers or Certificate of leave from work to enjoy social insurance are issued by medical examination and treatment facilities according to the form prescribed in Circular No. 56/2017/TT-BYT dated December 29, 2017 of the Ministry of Health (Appendix 3 and Appendix 7 issued with Circular 56/2017/TT-BYT).

However, in the process of implementing the regime, some problems have not been thoroughly resolved, causing frustration for many workers. At the meeting, representatives of a number of enterprises with a large number of F0 workers presented a number of questions and recommendations from workers. Specifically, many commune and ward health stations do not understand the process, do not print and issue leave certificates from the Social Insurance system to workers, leading to

Missing serial number, paper is invalid; Date signed coincides with date of quarantine completion; Missing seal; Number of days off is inconsistent; Recuperation regime is unreasonable...

The Dong Nam Economic Zone Trade Union raised questions and recommendations from workers. Photo: DT

In response to questions from employees, Ms. Le Thi Dung - Deputy Director of the Provincial Social Insurance Agency gave satisfactory answers. Accordingly, specific instructions on the implementation of the regime settlement have been fully posted on the Provincial Social Insurance Portal. In cases where the issuance has been incorrect or not in accordance with regulations, the Social Insurance professional departments will advise and guide employees to reissue and complete the dossier. Employees need to proactively notify and request medical facilities to provide documents to make dossiers to settle the regime.

In addition, the certificate of leave to receive social insurance will be issued for a maximum of 30 days. After the quarantine period on paper, the employee must return for a re-examination and declaration so that the doctor can decide whether to continue treatment and quarantine or not. The employee can apply for a certificate at any medical station nationwide, whether at the place of residence or temporary residence. Cases of employees who were F0 before February 23 will still have their records supplemented, completed and their benefits resolved...

Ms. Le Thi Dung - Deputy Director of the Provincial Social Insurance Agency answered questions and recommendations. Photo: DT

In the role of direct implementation, the representative of the Department of Health also pointed out the difficulties of the industry and proposed solutions. Mr. Nguyen Huu Le - Deputy Director of the Department of Health shared that the pressure on medical staff at commune and ward health stations is currently extremely high, with few human resources, a large workload and limited access to information, so there is no time to research and implement. Moreover, the situation where workers and medical staff do not confirm directly but call by phone also causes difficulties in handling procedures. Accordingly, Mr. Le said that the provincial Social Insurance agency and the Department of Health need to have a truly detailed inter-sectoral document in implementing social insurance procedures, ensuring timely benefits for workers.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Le - Deputy Director of the Department of Health proposed a solution to remove the obstacles. Photo: DT

Concluding the conference, Mr. Nguyen Chi Cong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial Labor Federation affirmed the importance of coordination in resolving policies in a timely manner, ensuring benefits for workers. The representative of the Provincial Labor Federation said that after the conference, the 3 units need to further promote propaganda and dissemination of policies to workers. While waiting for new amendments to Circular 56/2017/TT-BYT, the Social Insurance and the Department of Health need to have inter-sectoral guidance documents inSolving the regime for F0 workersand thoroughly and accurately disseminate to localities. In the coming time, to solve the problem of lack of human resources at commune and ward health stations, the three sectors will work together to find support solutions.