Result achieved
A social protection scheme to extend coverage, enhance comprehensiveness and/or increase adequacy of benefits has been adopted or reformed (Step 2)
Number of countries that have adopted or reformed social protection schemes to extend coverage, enhance comprehensiveness and/or increase adequacy of benefits (Step 2)
Outcome summary
The Government of Viet Nam issued two decrees to guide the implementation of the New Social Insurance Law to implement changes to compulsory social insurance provisions and introduce the social pension.
Outcome achieved
The Government of Viet Nam further issued two decrees to guide the implementation of the law: Government Decree 158/ND-CP/2025 detailing guidance for implementing changes to compulsory social insurance provisions and Decree 176/ND-CP/2025 detailing the introduction of the social pension under the new social insurance law. Starting from July 2025, an additional 1.6 million older people will receive social pension in Viet Nam. On 1 July 2024, the Decree 76/2024/ND-CP on amendment of Decree 20/2021/ND-CP on Social assistance policy was approved by the Government. The new Decree endorsed an 38 per cent increase in the social assistance standards benefits (from VND 360,000/month to VND 500,000).
ILO's contribution to the outcome
With the support of Irish Aid, the ILO also supported the capacity building of National Assembly deputies, Government staff, social partners and other stakeholders. To support the implementation of the Social Insurance Law, in June and July 2025, the ILO supported the Ministry of Home Affairs by conducting an assessment of household businesses and their participation in compulsory social insurance, and by providing evidence-based insights that served to formulate the Government Decree 158/ND-CP/2025 on expanding mandatory social insurance coverage to household businesses. The ILO supported the Ministry of Heath to develop Decree 176/2025/ND-CP through the development of policy options for the expansion of the social pension for people 75+ (a reduction from 80+), including a costing study. To support the development of Decree 76/2024, the ILO led a UN consortium, including UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP and UN Women that supported the Government in reviewing the implementation of Decree 20/2021/ND-CP on social assistance policies for three vulnerable groups: people with disabilities, women during maternity and ethnic minorities.
Gender equality & non-discrimination
The new Social Insurance Law, endorsed on June 29, 2024, includes important changes that promote gender equality. A notable provision is the introduction of maternity benefits to the voluntary social insurance scheme, which is fully subsidized by the state budget.
Partnerships
The ILO led a UN consortium (including UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, and UN Women) in supporting the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) to review the implementation of the previous Decree 20/2021/ND-CP. This review focused on three vulnerable groups: people with disabilities, women during maternity, and ethnic minorities.
Impacts
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Number of persons entitled to social protection by law
Older persons: 1,600,000