Viet Nam
Publications
Situation and Priorities
Social protection situation
Viet Nam has a relatively well developed social protection system. This includes social insurance (SI) system that covers a wide range of contingencies, as well as a Social Assistance (SA) system.
However, SI and social assistance (SA) policies have been independently designed and implemented through the years, making the expansion of coverage and effective financing of social protection a challenge.
As of 2023, compulsory SI covers around 38% of the working age population, while voluntary SI only covers around 4%, whilst covering a more limited set of contigencies.
Investment in Social Protection remains at around 4%, significantly below both the regional and global average . As a result, the coverage of Social Assistance, both in terms of beneficiaries (around 3 million) and monthly cash benefit level ($12 as an average) remains insufficient.
Viet Nam has made strong progress towards achieving universal health coverage, with social health insurance (SHI) covering around 92% of the population as of 20222. However, coverage remains inequitable, with the low enrolment of the near-poor, irregular contributions, weak enforcement, and low awareness of the benefits of SHI all contributing to effective coverage gaps.
Government and social partner priorities
The Government, the Party and the Social Partners in Viet Nam remain dedicated and focus on strengthening Vietnam's social protection system.
This is in line with the trend observed in recent decades, and includes, in 2023, ongoing key policy reforms such as:
- Social Insurance Law revision
- Employment Law revision (which covers Unemployment Insurance)
- Development of a new Party Resolution on Social Policies
- Creation of a Social Assistance Law
ILO Projects and Programmes
-
Towards a Multi-Tiered Social Protection System in Viet Nam that Leaves No One Behind
08.06.2023 - 07.06.2026 USD 807,684 Australia
-
Accelerating the Achievement of Universal Social Protection to Leave No One Behind
05.12.2022 - 31.12.2025 USD 3,196,589 Ireland
-
Promoting and building social protection in Asia (4th phase)
15.03.2021 - 31.12.2025 USD 3,220,214 Japan
Results
The ILO has provided significant technical support, capacity building and advocacy to the Government, the Party, and the Social Partners through some of the key social protection reforms which have taken place in recent years, including:
- Social Insurance Law revision (2014)
- Social Health Insurance Law revision (2014)
- Party Resolution 15 on Social Policies (2015)
- The Road Map for Social Assistance Reform and Development (MPSARD) (2017)
- Party Resolution 28 on Social Insurance Reform (MPSIR) (2018)
- Increase of Retirement Age (2019)
- Government Decree 20 on Social Assistance Reform (2021).
- Party Resolution 42 on Social Policies (2023).
Further to these achievements, the ILO continutes to provide support to all stakeholders on all the ongoing policy reforms described above.
-
On 24 November 2023 the Government adopted the Resolution No. 42 on “Continue to reform the social policies in the new period” regarding Social Policies Development for the 2023-2030 with a vision to 2045. This Resolution provides strategic directions ...
2023 VNM151
-
On 2 June 2023 the National Assembly adopted Resolution 89/2023/QH15 which endorsed the Policy Orientation for revising the revised Employment Law No 38/2013/QH13. In February 2023, the Government completed the dossier to revise the Employment Law, incl...
2023 VNM127
-
New regulations on the extension of Social Assistance have been endorsed by the Prime Minister
2021 VNM151
-
The Social Insurance Law was revised and endorsed.
2021 VNM151
-
A roadmap for reform for promoting pension adequacy and sustainability has been developed
2020 VNM151
News and Events
-
Asia Expert Roundtable on Unemployment Protection 2024
09.10.2024 - 10.10.2024
- OpEd: Year of the Dragon: Time for social protection to take flight in Vietnam
- Central Executive Committee of the Viet Nam Communist Party issued the Party Resolution No 42-NQ/TW on Social Policies
-
ILO supports Vietnam Women’s Union to develop new training package for gender-responsive social protection
06.12.2022 - 08.12.2022
- ILO underlines the need to make Social Insurance more attractive for workers through the ongoing law revision
-
ILO, Vietnamese Women Union join forces to promote gender equality in social insurance and ensure social protection rights in Viet Nam
16.07.2021 - 16.07.2021
Workspaces
-
Capacity Building Workshop: Extending Social Protection to the Informal Economy in Vietnam
24.12.2018
-
ILO-Luxembourg Regional Project 'Support to the extension of Social Health Protection in South-East Asia'
12.02.2020
-
ILO - Irish Aid Partnership Programme 2016 - 2021: Inclusive growth, social protection and jobs
05.08.2020
-
Accelerating the Achievement of Universal Social Protection to Leave No One Behind
13.11.2023