Vietnam, Japan share experience in social security policy making

Hanoi (VNA) – Experiences of Vietnam and Japan in making social security policies were shared at a seminar held by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) in Hanoi on October 9.

Le Phuoc Minh, Director of the VASS’s Institute of African and Middle East Studies, highlighted Vietnam’s efforts in carrying out social security policies and ensure social progress and equality.

However, he also noted that according to the resolution of the 12th Party Central Committee’s 7th session, there remain many shortcomings in the making and implementation of social security policies. The policy and law system on social insurance has yet to keep up with socio-economic development, population aging and the appearance of new labour relations.

At the seminar, delegates said current social security policies haven’t been truly aligned with the labour market as they mainly focus on the formal sector while lacking due attention to the informal one where labourers are more vulnerable. 

Meanwhile, there still exist many flaws in management and financial mechanisms, as well as the apparatus for administering social security.
 
Prof. Eiji Tajika from Japan’s Hitotsubashi University said to better ensure finance for social security in the coming years, Vietnam should address systematic shortcomings, including those in the coordination among relevant ministries and sectors like health, social security and finance.

He also suggested Vietnam consult with other countries’ experiences in this field.

At the event, other Japanese participants also shared expertise in building policies and regulations to deal with population aging with financial impact taken into account./.