After more than three months in effect, the revised 2024 Social Insurance Law (SI) is showing significant progress in expanding social security coverage and enhancing public satisfaction with SI policies.
According to Vietnam Social Insurance (VSI), as of September, nearly 19.9 million people have enrolled in SI, an increase of approximately 800,000 compared to the same period in 2024. This includes nearly 17.7 million in compulsory SI and over 2.13 million in voluntary SI. Unemployment insurance participants also surpassed 16 million, with a rise of nearly 700,000.
On the benefits side, over 144,000 individuals receive monthly pensions; more than 5.3 million have claimed sickness benefits; nearly 1 million have accessed maternity benefits; and approximately 600,000 have received unemployment allowances. Notably, the number of one-time SI withdrawals has decreased by about 23%, indicating a positive shift in workers’ long-term financial planning.
The new provisions of the SI Law have been well-received, offering benefits not previously available under the old legislation.
Nearly 1 million workers claimed maternity benefits in the first nine months.
Key updates include reducing the contribution period for pension eligibility from 20 to 15 years, benefiting older and informal workers; introducing maternity benefits for voluntary SI participants, with a 2 million VND support for childbirth—a surprising addition as voluntary SI previously only covered pensions; adjusting retirement age and introducing monthly allowances for those meeting age but not contribution requirements, ensuring elderly and low-income individuals are supported.
The new law also extends compulsory SI coverage to business owners, non-specialized commune-level officials, enterprise managers, and state capital representatives.
VSI plans to streamline procedures and accelerate digital transformation to make policies more accessible. Despite implementation challenges, with government leadership and local cooperation, the revised SI Law is expected to significantly expand social security coverage, aligning with sustainable development goals.
Over Half a Million Unemployed in Nine Months
On October 28, Vietnam Social Security (VSS) announced that over the first nine months of this year, approximately 1 million workers have benefited from maternity leave allowances, while nearly 600,000 individuals received unemployment benefits.
4 Scenarios Exempted from Mandatory Social Insurance and Unemployment Insurance Contributions Under the New Decree
As of November 30, 2025, Decree 274/2025/NĐ-CP outlines four specific scenarios where individuals are exempt from being considered as evading mandatory social insurance (SI) and unemployment insurance (UI) contributions.
Maximizing Social Security Retirement Benefits: A Comprehensive Guide to Your Entitlements
Approximately 1.5 million individuals aged 75 to 80 qualify for social pension benefits under the Social Insurance Law.
Retirement in 2025: Calculating Your Monthly Pension After 30 Years of Social Insurance Contributions
Article 66 and Article 72 of the 2024 Social Insurance Law provide detailed guidelines for calculating the monthly pension amount for individuals enrolled in compulsory social insurance (BHXH).
Why Do Localities Apply Different Levels of Social Retirement Benefits?
“A number of provinces and cities have taken the initiative to increase social retirement allowances beyond the standard government regulations. They are taking steps to ensure that their elderly citizens are provided for, with some areas offering more generous benefits than others.”
