Directive 21/CT-TTg 2022 promoting digital transformation in non-cash social security payment

DIRECTIVE

On promoting digital transformation in non-cash social security payment

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Following the guidelines and policies on improving constantly the material and spiritual life of the people of the Party and the State; in recent years, the system of social security policies has basically ensured fairness and comprehensiveness, covering and approaching international standards, affirmed people's right to security, contributed to economic development, political stability and social order. In general, policy beneficiaries are entitled to support regimes properly, sufficiently and timely, especially the payment of support policies for those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic recently.

However, in the process of organizing the implementation of social policies, the form of direct payment in cash is mainly used, leading to the lack of synchronization among localities; many mechanisms and policies to encourage the non-state sectors to participate in public service provision are unavailable. The application of information technology in management and administration of policy is deployed slowly. The monitoring, management and payment of beneficiaries are inconsistent and unsynchronized according to the actual time between the central bodies and localities, therefore, the payment for beneficiaries is still slow and overlapping.

Currently, a database on social security has been deployed and connected to the National Population Database, facilitating the management of this target group. To enhance the application of technology and digital transformation in state management activities, and implementation of social policies to create favorable conditions for people to access social services, especially for non-cash payments, the Prime Minister requests ministries, sectors and localities to promote actively and urgently digital transformation in the implementation of social security policies, non-cash payment for employees and those who are entitled to allowances from the state budget. To be specific:

1. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall

a) Develop and complete the database on beneficiaries of social security policies, connect and share social security data with the National Population Database according to the Scheme on developing the application of data on population, identification, electronic authentication data for national digital transformation in the 2022-2025 period, with a vision toward 2030, attached to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 06/QD-TTg dated January 6, 2022 (hereinafter referred to as Scheme 06).

b) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and ministries, sectors and unions in, directing the Working Groups for Scheme 06 at commune and district levels to review and make a list of beneficiaries; check and verify the list of beneficiaries with the National Database on Population, strive to complete it in the first quarter of 2023.

c) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the State Bank of Vietnam, the Ministry of Public Security and relevant agencies to promote the implementation of payment via accounts (including bank accounts, e-wallets, mobile money accounts and other lawful forms) for social security beneficiaries, make non-cash payment to social security beneficiaries in 2022.

d) Organize the propaganda and guide localities to carry out digital transformation within the scope of the assigned state management, coordinate with agencies paying social security policies to make non-cash payment for social security beneficiaries.

dd) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies in, formulating processes and guiding localities in the implementation of non-cash payment for social security beneficiaries.

2. The State Bank of Vietnam shall

a) Direct commercial banks and intermediary payment service providers to research and adopt policies to support and give preferential treatment for payment service fees for social security beneficiaries opening and using bank accounts, e-wallets to receive support from the state budget.

b) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security and relevant agencies in, guiding the implementation of payment by accounts for beneficiaries of social security policies from the state budget.

3. The Ministry of Public Security shall

a) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in, researching and deploying the software to manage citizens supported by the State's social security policy on the National Database on population, identification and electronic authentication, complete in 2022.

b) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant units in, building a system for collecting and updating information about citizens' accounts on the databases of population, identification and electronic authentication; connect and synchronize data with databases of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and related units to support the implementation of social security policies.

c) Verify information about social security beneficiaries at the request of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

d) The Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall urgently connect and synchronize social security data in accordance with the schedule of Scheme 06.

dd) Direct local police forces to coordinate with local labor agencies to review, compare and verify information about social security beneficiaries in localities, serving the non-cash social security payment, complete in 2022.

4. The Ministry of Finance shall

a) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries and sectors in, amending and supplementing regulations on management, use and payment of social security regimes and policies in compliance with the digital transformation and non-cash payment.

b) Direct the State Treasury to upgrade online public services and guide local State Treasury units to coordinate with social security payment agencies to implement the process of social security payment by accounts for social security beneficiaries, complete in the first quarter of 2023.

5. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall

a) Direct telecommunications service providers to have preferential policies for social security beneficiaries registering and using mobile money accounts.

b) Ensure information safety and security as well as the exchange, communication and sharing of data among units implementing the policy of non-cash payment of social security benefits.

c) Coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in directing media agencies to propagate the policy of digital transformation and non-cash payment of social security benefits.

6. The Vietnam Social Security shall

a) Cooperate with the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in certifying the beneficiaries of social security policies for those who are covered by the Vietnam Social Security.

b) Cooperate with commercial banks and payment service providers to make non-cash payment for beneficiaries of social security policies within the coverage of Vietnam Social Security, unemployment benefits in urban areas shall be paid through non-cash payment methods.

7. People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall

a) Direct departments, agencies, sectors and People's Committees at all levels in the localities to make non-cash payment of social security benefits.

b) Direct specialized agencies to coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in developing and applying the software in collecting and managing databases on subjects in the Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs sector, regularly update the lists of beneficiaries of social security policies in localities.

c) Take solutions to promptly make an unexpected social security beneficiary list (those who are affected by epidemics, natural disasters, etc.).

d) Direct specialized agencies and People's Committees at all levels to closely coordinate with police forces in verifying information about social security beneficiaries in localities.

dd) Support individuals, organizations and socio-political organizations to make non-cash payment for social security beneficiaries in localities.

8. Payment service providers shall

a) Organize payment services proactively while applying information technology, digital transformation, connect the system with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and commercial banks, organize intermediary payment to ensure payment services from accounts are convenient, easy, safe, transparent to the commune level; guide and support citizens to use non-cash payment instruments.

b) Coordinate with the Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs sector in propagating, mobilizing and persuading people to follow the non-cash payment policy.

c) Coordinate with banks and intermediary payment service providers to ensure citizens’ rights and interests; publicize and transparentize the management and payment of social security policies.

9. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies and chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall organize the implementation and direct agencies, organizations and units under the management to strictly follow this Directive.

For the Prime Minister

The Deputy Prime Minister

Vu Duc Dam