Vietnam Promotes Voluntary Social Insurance for Freelancers and Rural Workers

Can Tho City in southern Vietnam is focusing on promoting its voluntary social insurance program, which serves as a practical social security support for freelancers, rural workers, and individuals without stable employment contracts. The initiative aims to help citizens proactively accumulate savings for their old age. The Can Tho Social Security Office is innovating its public awareness methods to achieve sustainable dissemination. It is also conducting outreach activities in schools to promote the social insurance policy and the convenience of its digital services, targeting younger generations. Furthermore, the Social Security Office is driving digital transformation (DX) to streamline services for citizens and businesses. Specifically, efforts are underway to integrate social insurance books and health insurance cards into VNeID, Vietnam's national ID application, which is expected to simplify procedures and enhance convenience. Under Vietnam's one-party system, the government prioritizes improving social welfare as a key policy objective. Given that the benefits of economic growth do not necessarily reach all segments of society, expanding the social security system is a crucial pillar for maintaining social stability and addressing inequality. The rise of freelancing and non-regular employment is a common challenge in many countries, and Vietnam is no exception. In this context, the voluntary social insurance program is positioned as an important tool for individuals to proactively plan for their future, serving as a complement or alternative to the traditional employer-contributed social insurance. Strengthening domestic social stability also contributes to geopolitical stability, particularly in relation to China. Information Source: Nhan Dan