“Social Security Recovers $4.6 Billion; Workers Reap the Benefits”

The inspection and supervision work of the Social Insurance sector in Vietnam is making significant strides in protecting the rights of millions of workers. By leveraging modern technology and rigorous operational measures, the sector has uncovered and recovered hundreds of billions of dong in unpaid and evaded contributions.

Technology Enables Precise Inspections

Unlike previous years, the inspection work is no longer solely dependent on manual methods, random sampling, or feedback from grassroots levels. Instead, the entire sector has adopted a large-scale database system, seamlessly connecting operational software and leveraging data analysis to identify risks.

With centralized data, the sector can swiftly identify units exhibiting signs of violations, such as delays in contributions exceeding three months, tax declarations without proper enrollment in social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance for their workers. Even in large enterprises with thousands of employees or hospitals and healthcare facilities with millions of patient visits, the technology enables a comprehensive review of 100% of the records.

This marks a significant advancement, enhancing management efficiency, conserving resources, and minimizing redundant inspections that cause inconvenience to businesses.

The innovative approach and resolute execution have yielded impressive results. From 2024 to April 2025 alone, the sector conducted inspections and supervision at nearly 23,000 units, uncovering and promptly addressing violations in participation and benefit payments.

The recovery of unpaid contributions and the retrieval of rightful contributions for workers serve not only as a deterrent but also as a direct safeguard of their rights. Tens of thousands of individuals have had their rightful insurance contributions retrieved, enabling them to qualify for maternity, sickness, work injury, unemployment, and retirement benefits.

Safeguarding the Legitimate Rights of Workers

The impact of the inspection work transcends the recovered sums; it fosters a positive shift in legal compliance awareness within the business community.

In 2021, the nationwide rate of delayed social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance contributions stood at 3.67%. By 2024, this figure decreased to 2.59%, reflecting a consistent annual reduction and indicating a transformation in the mindset and behavior of employers.

The detection and recovery of unpaid or underpaid contributions from numerous businesses have safeguarded the legitimate rights of tens of thousands of workers.

According to the Vietnamese Social Insurance sector, alongside inspections and supervision, they have intensified their efforts in disseminating information and educating businesses about the relevant policies and laws. In many instances, this has helped businesses comprehend the regulations accurately and voluntarily rectify their mistakes without the need for stringent enforcement measures.

Beyond protecting the individual rights of workers, inspections and supervision play a pivotal role in ensuring transparency and fairness in the enjoyment of insurance benefits. Incorrect payments from the social insurance, unemployment insurance, and especially health insurance funds—which entail substantial expenses—if left unchecked, could pose a financial risk to the entire system.

The recovery of 172 billion dong in inappropriate health insurance medical expense payments within a short period is a testament to the efficacy of this work. This achievement signifies not just a monetary recovery but also a restoration of societal trust in fairness—ensuring that everyone’s rights are equally protected, and no one receives undue benefits or suffers losses.

The empirical data obtained from the inspection and supervision activities are now serving as a crucial foundation for the Vietnamese Social Insurance sector to propose amendments and supplements to the Social Insurance Law, Health Insurance Law, and related regulations. The gaps and loopholes identified in practice are being addressed to ensure a more cohesive, enforceable, and labor market-aligned legal framework.

By effectively harnessing technology, operational measures, and collaborative efforts, the inspection and supervision work of the Vietnamese Social Insurance sector is yielding benefits that extend beyond financial recoveries and penalties. It is contributing to the development of a modern and transparent social security system, where workers’ rights are upheld and all contributions are utilized for their intended purposes.