From December 9-12, the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) in Ho Chi Minh City conducted a survey on the implementation and results of social insurance (SI) and health insurance (HI) policies at the HCMC Social Insurance Agency. The survey aimed to evaluate the deployment and execution of SI and HI policies across the city, identify challenges, and propose improvements to relevant authorities for policy refinement.
Mr. Phan Hồng Ân, Vice Chairman of the VFF Committee in HCMC, addressing the survey meeting
According to Mr. Nguyễn Quốc Thanh, Deputy Director of the HCMC Social Insurance Agency, the city has approximately 400,000 ride-hailing drivers and online workers, as reported by the HCMC Institute for Development Studies. However, under current SI and HI laws, these workers are not mandated to participate in compulsory insurance schemes, despite earning stable monthly incomes. The agency has urged the VFF to propose amendments to the National Assembly, including these workers in the mandatory SI and HI programs.
The VFF Standing Committee surveying SI and HI policy implementation at the HCMC Social Insurance Agency
Additionally, the 2019 Labor Code allows verbal employment contracts for terms under one month. However, the 2024 SI Law mandates SI participation for workers under contracts of at least one month, creating loopholes exploited by companies in construction, security, and transportation to evade SI contributions. The agency recommends revising the SI Law to include all workers under employment contracts, regardless of contract type, in the mandatory SI scheme.
HCMC Social Insurance Agency advocates for ride-hailing drivers’ inclusion in mandatory SI
The agency also suggests the VFF propose that the Prime Minister directs the Ministry of Public Security to share citizen and residency data with SI authorities to enhance participant enrollment and coverage tracking. Furthermore, it recommends the HCMC People’s Council include SI and HI coverage targets in annual socio-economic resolutions and provide additional subsidies for voluntary SI participants to boost enrollment.
As of November 2025, HCMC has 11,969,807 SI and HI participants, a 0.64% monthly increase (75,993 people) and a 4.05% yearly rise (465,661 people) since December 2024. The labor force’s SI participation rate is 57.82%, unemployment insurance (UI) is 55.2%, and HI covers 85.12% of the population.
Mr. Nguyễn Quốc Thanh reporting on SI and HI policy implementation at the survey meeting
SI and HI revenues reached nearly 131.166 trillion VND, 91.55% of the target set by Vietnam Social Insurance, a 12.64% increase from 2024. Arrears total 9.883 trillion VND (6.9% of the target), with 5.956 trillion VND outstanding after adjustments.
By December 31, 2025, HCMC expects 4,689,023 SI participants (up 17.31%), 4,402,003 UI participants (up 15.05%), and 13,302,468 HI participants (up 15.68%). Total revenues are projected at 143.276 trillion VND (up 7.82%). Coverage rates will be 58.42% for SI, 55.43% for UI, and 95% for HI, with a 3.55% arrears rate (excluding uncollectible debts from dissolved or bankrupt companies).
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