A seminar held in the northern province of Vinh Phuc on July 23 sought guidelines to enforce the Social Insurance Law that is set to come into effect on January 1, 2016.

Reports delivered at the event featured new policies specified in the Laws on Social and Health Insurance, looming difficulties in law enforcement, trade unions’ roles and responsibilities to ensure the legitimate rights of social insurance holders.

Addressing the event, Head of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs Truong Thi Mai said social insurance policy is the central pillar of the social welfare system for the sake of social progress and fairness.

With the State, employers and employees as stakeholders, social insurance contributions have formed the country’s largest social welfare fund.

As of December 31, 2014, over 11.6 million people were covered by social insurance, more than 11.4 million of which have compulsorily paid premiums and 196,000 have voluntarily paid premiums, while over 9.2 million received unemployment benefits.

About 1.5 million people aged over 80 years were entitled to State allowances last year.

Participants also put forth solutions to refining labour regulations.

The seminar was co-hosted by the NA Committee for Social Affairs, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Vietnam Social Insurance.-VNA