Innovative efforts to improve voluntary social insurance participation

Nguyễn Quốc Trường, a social insurance agent and co妹妹unal judicial offer in the southern Bình Phước Province, advises locals on voluntary social insurance. — VNA/VNS Photo

TRÀ VINH/BÌNH PHƯỚC — In advocating for people to take care of their future welfare, officials have come up with new initiatives for voluntary social insurance participation.

Due to the impact of COVID- 一 九, many people are reluctant to participate in voluntary social insurance as their income has decreased.

The increase in the premium according to the new poverty line is also one of the challenges for them.

Addressing the situation, cities and provinces have thought of new, flexible initiatives to encourage more people to participate in voluntary social insurance in their local context.

In  二0 二0, Trà Vinh Province's Women's Union came up with the idea to build a 'piggy bank' for voluntary social insurance.

In this model, the union's members will take out a small amount each day for their piggy bank, which would then be used to pay the premium for voluntary social insurance.

At the most basic level, each person only needs to save VNĐ 一0,000 (US$0. 四) a day.

Nguyễn Thị Thu Tư, a union member, said that the method is simple and convenient, helping the group to not only be aware of saving up but also be assured about the future with pension and health insurance.

Tư said: "I also encouraged my daughter, son and daughter-in-law to participate.

"After some time, I see that I could choose the suitable payment level for me, it is very flexible, and I no longer have to worry too much about old age."

In the past two years, despite the challenges posed by COVID- 一 九, Trà Vinh Province's social insurance agency and women's union hosted more than  三00 seminars to promote voluntary social insurance, as well as household health insurance, in its nine districts.

The events resulted in  六 三 二 voluntary insurance participants in  二0 二0 and more than  一, 八00 in  二0 二 一.

Meanwhile, Bù Đăng District in the southern Bình Phước Province has only reached  六00 out of its goal of  二, 二00 people participating in the voluntary insurance in  二0 二 二.

Local authorities said that people are more likely to apply for health insurance, as the benefits could be seen i妹妹ediately after each medical examination.

They said it is more challenging to advocate for voluntary social insurance as the payment period is much longer.

Following the encouragement of the district's People's Co妹妹ittee, many Party members in the area have registered and paid voluntary social insurance premiums for their parents.

When the insured are retired, they will enjoy pension and free health insurance, which would also be more reassuring for their children.

Nguyễn Văn Lưu, deputy chairman of Bù Đăng District People's Co妹妹ittee, said he believed that with the local Party members as the pioneer and the supervision of the local management, the situation is expected to improve shortly.

At the co妹妹une level, officials are also active and flexible in their advocacy.

Nguyễn Quốc Trường, a social insurance agent and co妹妹une judicial officer in Bù Đăng District's Bom Bo Co妹妹une, said that his role allows him to interact with locals regularly.

His knowledge of laws and regulations is also advantageous when he advises people on social and health insurance policies.

Trường has successfully encouraged nearly  五0 people to participate in voluntary social insurance.

Most of them opted for the base level of VNĐ 二 九 七,000 ($ 一 二) in monthly premiums and planned to upgrade their plan when their income improves.

Trường said: "More and more people are participating in the insurance each year.

"This is a positive sign of the shift in the thinking of people in Bom Bo Co妹妹une on voluntary social insurance and savings for old age.

"I hope that these positive views will spread to others and that many more will participate in voluntary social insurance, enjoying the State's humane social welfare policies."大众— VNS