【世界银行】扩大越南自愿社会保险计划的覆盖范围：见解和建议_98页_2mb

Summary of "Expanding Coverage in Vietnam's Voluntary Social Insurance Scheme"

Core Content

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Voluntary Social Insurance (VSI) scheme in Vietnam, with a focus on expanding coverage among informal workers. It outlines the current state of the scheme, identifies challenges in its implementation, and proposes recommendations for improving design, delivery, and incentives to increase participation.

Main Objectives

• To expand coverage in the VSI scheme to meet the targets set by Resolution 28 (2030).
• To improve the attractiveness and accessibility of the voluntary scheme.
• To inform the 2024 Social Insurance Law revision and support sustainable coverage expansion.

Key Findings

1. Coverage and Demographics

• Vietnam has a large informal sector, with around 76% of all workers and 55–60% of non-agricultural workers employed informally.
• As of 2023, the voluntary scheme has a low participation rate, with only 2.1% of informal workers enrolled.
• The voluntary scheme is designed for individuals aged 15 or older not eligible for the compulsory scheme.
• The minimum contribution is VND 330,000 per month (22% of the rural poverty line), with government subsidies for the poorest households (up to 30% of the minimum contribution).

2. Scheme Design and Benefits

• The voluntary scheme offers coverage for old age and death, unlike the compulsory scheme which covers five risks.
• It is a defined benefit scheme, with pension benefits calculated based on years of contribution and income level.
• Benefits include:
  • Old-age pension
  • Survivor benefits
  • Funeral allowances
  • Health insurance premiums during retirement
  • Maternity benefits (under new SI law)
• The vesting period for pensions is currently 20 years, but will be reduced to 15 years from July 1, 2025.

3. Delivery Chain Assessment

• The delivery chain involves five stages: Assess, Enroll, Contribute, Provide, Manage.
• Outreach and registration are heavily reliant on VSS agents, which is cost-effective but may not be scalable.
• Digital tools like VSSID and online portals are underutilized, despite their potential to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
• There is a high dependence on agents for registration and contribution, but digital alternatives should be promoted to reduce costs and improve accessibility.

4. Survey Insights

• Awareness of the scheme is low, particularly regarding specific benefits and government incentives.
• Word of mouth is the most effective method for raising awareness.
• Digital tools such as a pension estimator and leaflets are recommended to improve understanding of benefits.
• Preferences vary by gender and age, with women showing higher interest in maternity benefits and men in occupational hazard insurance.
• State subsidies are highly valued, but not sufficient to ensure universal participation.
• Short-term benefits (e.g., withdrawal flexibility, life insurance, loans) are seen as attractive but not universally desired.
• Income level and future expectations are key factors influencing participation.

Key Recommendations

1. Design and Incentives

• Improve predictability in minimum contribution levels and manage member expectations around increases.
• Increase the generosity of state subsidies and improve awareness of these subsidies.
• Introduce short-term benefits in a bundled format to enhance scheme attractiveness.
• Offer a flat benefit or social pension at an earlier age for those who consistently contribute.

2. Delivery and Outreach

• Develop a unique branding for the voluntary scheme with a local name and logo.
• Encourage digital service delivery to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
• Set digital take-up targets and monitor progress across provinces using dashboards.
• Reduce reliance on paper-based forms by using existing health insurance data to auto-populate online registration forms.
• Utilize call-center staff in annual surveys to assess customer experience.
• Simplify registration forms and streamline business processes to encourage re-enrollment of dormant participants.
• Create diverse outreach material that clearly explains rules, contribution methods, and benefits.
• Develop a digital pension estimator to help individuals understand future benefits.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Strengthen monitoring and evaluation across all administrative levels of the VSS.
• Implement a rewards and recognition program for high-performing provinces and districts.
• Collaborate with the General Statistics Office to enhance data collection and analysis.
• Include VSI-related questions in national surveys like the Labor Force Survey (LFS) for better analysis.
• Conduct cost-effectiveness assessments of outreach and communication efforts.
• Set up impact evaluations to assess the effect of the 2024 SI law changes on coverage and contributions.
• Enhance analytical capacity of staff to interpret data and provide recommendations.

Conclusion

Expanding coverage in Vietnam's voluntary social insurance scheme requires a multi-faceted approach that includes improving scheme design, enhancing delivery mechanisms, and leveraging digital tools. The current low participation rate among informal workers highlights the need for targeted subsidies, clear communication, and better outreach strategies. By learning from international experiences and implementing the proposed recommendations, Vietnam can increase the attractiveness and accessibility of the voluntary scheme, ultimately supporting its goals of expanding social insurance coverage and improving financial security for older adults.