Extending social security to informal workers

As one of Vietnam's four leading industrial hubs, Dong Nai City attracts large numbers of workers from provinces and cities across the country who come to live and work there. The city currently has a population of about five million, including a large number of informal workers. Expanding health insurance and voluntary social insurance coverage will therefore help most residents gain access to social security policies.

By the end of June 2026, Dong Nai had recorded a high number of participants in both social insurance and health insurance programs. However, hundreds of thousands of people remain outside the two schemes, most of them informal workers such as small traders, seasonal laborers and farmers. As a result, they lack a social safety net to protect them against life's unexpected risks and provide financial security in old age.

In reality, informal workers often have unstable incomes and face greater financial vulnerability than other groups. A workplace accident, a prolonged illness requiring costly treatment, or the loss of earning capacity later in life can quickly push an entire family into financial hardship. Meager savings can quickly be depleted, leaving relatives to shoulder the burden. Only then do many realize the value of voluntary social insurance and health insurance, wishing they had enrolled earlier to secure a pension and lifelong health insurance coverage.

Currently, policies encouraging participation in voluntary social insurance and health insurance have become more accessible. Eligible participants in voluntary social insurance now receive partial premium subsidies, while contributors are free to choose payment levels that suit their financial circumstances. Meanwhile, health insurance benefits have continued to expand, easing the financial burden of medical treatment. Affordable occupational accident insurance also provides an additional safeguard against unexpected risks.

While each insurance scheme serves a different purpose, together they provide comprehensive protection against life's uncertainties. Participating in both voluntary social insurance and health insurance enables people to access healthcare services while building long-term financial security through retirement benefits.

However, expanding voluntary social insurance and health insurance coverage is no easy task. Most informal workers have low and unstable incomes, so setting aside money for monthly or quarterly insurance contributions places considerable financial pressure on them. In addition, some believe they are still healthy and do not yet need insurance. Meanwhile, others focus only on the amount they must pay each month without fully recognizing the policies' long-term humanitarian value. Communication and counseling on voluntary health insurance and social insurance must therefore be specific and easy to understand, helping people clearly grasp the benefits and participate proactively.

Building a sustainable social security system is not solely the responsibility of the social insurance sector but requires the collective efforts of the entire political system. Every additional participant in voluntary social insurance and health insurance not only strengthens financial protection for themselves and their families but also helps create a stable foundation for social security. Expanding insurance coverage is therefore one of Dong Nai's key priorities in building a civilized, modern and happy city.

By K.Minh – Translated by M.Nguyet, Minho