Activities of Vietnam's Programs and Projects

Along with financial support policies from the State budget for farmers to participate in social security according to the principle of contribution - benefit and not based on contributions as analyzed above, in recent years, our State has had many economic - social policies to encourage and support farmers to increase their income. Along with the promulgation of economic policies to develop agriculture, shift the economic structure, promote industrialization and modernization of rural agriculture, develop industrial zones, ... Our Party and State also have many policies in the social field such as labor and employment policies, poverty reduction policies, labor export policies, policies on providing basic social services for the people in general and for farmers in particular. This system of economic - social policies contributes to supporting and encouraging farmers, ensuring the implementation of the State's role in social security for farmers.

After the 7th Party Congress, the National Employment Program was mentioned. This program aims to develop a number of key sectors and areas to create more jobs for workers. The Labor Code with specific regulations to ensure the rights, responsibilities and obligations of workers and employers was soon promulgated. Regarding ethnic minorities, the Congress also pointed out that policies for developing commodity economy in ethnic minority areas must be suitable to the conditions and characteristics of each region and each ethnic group, ensuring that ethnic minorities can exploit the strengths of the locality to enrich themselves and contribute to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

From 1998 to present, a series of programs and projects to support farmers to escape poverty have been approved by the Prime Minister such as Program 133 (1998) - National Target Program for Poverty Reduction in the period of 1998 - 2000 with the goal of eliminating chronic hunger and reducing the poverty rate nationwide to 10% by 2000 [67]; Program 135 (1998) - Socio-economic development program for extremely disadvantaged communes, mountainous areas and remote areas [69]; Program 143 (2001) - National Target Program for Poverty Reduction and Employment in the period of 2001-2005 with the goal of reducing the poverty rate to below 10% according to the new standards of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and completely eliminating chronic hunger; ensure that poor communes have basic infrastructure such as irrigation, schools, clinics, roads, electricity, etc.; create 1.4 - 1.5 million jobs each year) [70]. In particular, the Prime Minister approved the "Comprehensive Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction" on May 21, 2002, with the following objectives:

The policy focuses mainly on rural areas to support the poor [19].

To date, there are approximately 33 poverty reduction projects and policies (see Appendix 2). Poverty reduction support activities implemented by the Vietnamese government in recent times are generally comprehensive, covering all essential areas and elements, and their approaches and interventions are also different. Some projects are designed to meet the needs of certain target groups in a different region or to support other groups that have not benefited from any other programs or projects. It has been pointed out that 30 different support methods are identified in all poverty reduction programs.

Table 3.1: Activities of Vietnam's poverty reduction programs and projects

Support for agricultural production

Infrastructure
- Agricultural extension support	- Types of infrastructure works
- Subsidize agricultural inputs	different
- Agricultural training	- Operation and maintenance
- Agricultural training	Medical Support - Medical services - Improve medical condition - Improve livestock hygiene and safety
- Support land production
- Support fisheries
- Forest management and exploitation
- Loans for the poor for production
Educational Support	Training and capacity building
- Access to education	- Vocational training
- Tuition support	- Training staff to implement
- Support boarding schools	poverty reduction program
- Salary policy for teachers in	- Poverty reduction monitoring and evaluation
remote areas
Access to service	Subsidy
- Access to clean water supply services	- Subsidize some shipping costs
- Access to electricity service	goods to remote areas
- Support legal access	- Fuel subsidies for ethnic minorities
	- Direct food support
Housing assistance - House materials - Housing support	Support ethnic minorities - Support for immigration and resettlement - Support small ethnic minority groups

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Source: Author's synthesis data.

Currently, although the economy is facing difficulties and many policies have to cut down on implementation capital, resources for poverty reduction have not decreased but have increased. If on average in the period 2008 - 2012, we spent about 90,000 billion VND/year on poverty reduction, then in the period 2011 - 2013, resources for poor households were 364,000 billion VND, equivalent to 120,000 billion VND/year. This demonstrates the determination of the Party and State in devoting significant resources to rapidly reduce the poverty rate in our country, striving to achieve the Millennium Development Goals [97].

Along with the poverty reduction policy, the Vietnamese State has issued and implemented many support policies, creating opportunities for the poor, youth, rural workers, workers in the informal sector, surplus workers, disabled workers and other vulnerable groups of workers to participate in the labor market. The important policy groups are:

1) Credit policy . By 2010, the State had issued about 20 preferential credit policies, using credit borrowing mechanisms through programs, organizations, associations, and unions. The objectives of these credit policies are very diverse, to develop production, support students, etc. Beneficiaries include the poor, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, young people, people going to work abroad, workers who have lost their jobs due to the impact of the economic crisis, workers whose land must be converted to another purpose, students in difficult circumstances, traders operating in difficult areas, low-income people, etc.

As of December 31, 2012, the total outstanding debt of the preferential credit program (for the poor and other policy beneficiaries) reached VND 113,921 billion, 6.2 times higher than the outstanding debt in 2005, with more than 8 million customers having outstanding debt. By the end of 2012, more than 21.4 million poor households and other policy beneficiaries had received preferential credit loans [98]. The National Employment Program, together with employment funds, were established in localities with the main objective of using credit incentives combined with training and job referrals to support and become a "midwife" to stimulate job creation for workers.

2) Labor export policy . Over the years, the State has formed a system of policies on sending workers to work for a limited period of time abroad.

In addition, developing an overseas employment fund, building comprehensive programs from training, credit loans to supporting workers when returning home such as: Project to support poor districts to promote labor export to contribute to sustainable poverty reduction in the period 2009-2020 [86]; The Prime Minister decided to establish, manage and use the Overseas Employment Support Fund [81]; Project on vocational training for workers going to work abroad until 2015 [76]; loans for Vietnamese workers going to work abroad [54]... According to the preliminary report of the Department of Overseas Labor Management (Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs), after 3 years of implementing the project (up to 2012), 7,500 workers from 56/62 poor districts were sent to work abroad [99].

3) Policies for providing basic social services and personal services are gradually being improved. Currently, with the concept of developing social work into a profession, Vietnam has many policies and measures to enhance basic social services such as housing, education, health care for people in industrial zones, people whose land has been recovered,... providing personal services such as caring for children in especially difficult circumstances, services for vulnerable groups...

The results of the above income-generating policies contribute to promoting the working population in the direction of reducing rural population and labor, increasing urban population and labor, increasing trained labor, increasing income for people in general and farmers in particular, creating opportunities for farmers to participate in the social security system according to the contribution-benefit principle.

3.1.3. The State builds a model for organizing management, inspection and supervision of social security in general and for farmers in particular.

First, perfecting the social insurance organization model for farmers . Before the Social Insurance Law, the organization of social insurance for farmers was experimental, built by social organizations (Farmers' Association, Fatherland Front; Veterans' Association, etc.). These social organizations mobilized members to save to establish mutual aid funds, such as: sick visit fund; life insurance fund; farmer pension fund and disaster relief fund, etc. These funds were established on the principle of voluntary participation of farmers, collective support and community participation. The level of farmers' contribution to the fund is regulated quite flexibly in many forms:

in rice, in cash by month, crop or year. Depending on the initial contribution of farmers, there will be appropriate payment levels based on public discussion into regulations and charters. A typical example is Nghe An Farmers' Social Insurance.

Nghe An Farmers' Social Insurance was established in 1998, a type of voluntary social insurance organized and piloted in Quynh Luu district with three communes: Dien Tho (Dien Chau); Tan Son (Do Luong); Dong Vinh ward (Vinh city). In the absence of a model, the task set for Nghe An Farmers' Social Insurance is to understand farmers' lives, investigate the need to participate in social insurance and calculate the contribution and benefit levels. On that basis, Nghe An Farmers' Social Insurance has developed the Temporary Regulations for Farmers' Social Insurance, stipulating the implementation of two regimes: retirement (monthly pension, one-time retirement allowance) and death benefit (funeral allowance and death benefit). After several years of implementing the Temporary Regulations for Farmers' Social Insurance, it has shown that this is a type of insurance suitable for rural economic conditions and has attracted a large number of farmers to participate.

However, after the Law on Social Insurance was implemented, the form of social insurance organization for farmers was organized by the State to be managed uniformly within the Vietnam Social Insurance.

Second, for the Unemployment Insurance for Farmers . Unlike the Unemployment Insurance Organization, the Unemployment Insurance for Farmers was established earlier, since 1992 with the policy of building Unemployment Insurance for all people. During the years 1992 - 1998, the Unemployment Insurance was organized vertically from the Central to the local level. Health insurance in general, Unemployment Insurance in particular, including Unemployment Insurance for Farmers, are managed by the Health Insurance agencies. At the Central level: Vietnam Health Insurance is under the Ministry of Health. Health insurance of provinces and centrally run cities is under Vietnam Health Insurance; in districts and counties, there are branches of district and county health insurance under the province and city.

During this period, the inter-ministerial committee has not yet issued a document guiding the implementation of health insurance for rural residents and self-employed workers. Based on the direction of Vietnam Health Insurance, localities have made efforts to explore and develop pilot implementation models, namely: health insurance for households, by residential area, for relatives of workers, by associations and unions.

In Hanoi, Can Tho,... build a model to implement health insurance for households. Each province has one district to pilot. With this model, the health insurance agency coordinates

Coordinate with local authorities and organizations to organize. Establish steering committees for people's health insurance with the participation of the Government, Party Committee, People's Council and the health insurance agency. The steering committee, with the support of the health insurance agency, will directly implement the program, carry out the following tasks: propagandize and mobilize people, make lists to collect people's money, monitor the implementation process, etc.

In addition to the above pilot model, there is also a health insurance model based on associations and unions, typically implemented by the Women's Union (Thua Thien Hue, Hai Phong, Ninh Binh, Dong Nai, Kien Giang, Nghe An, etc.) or organized for members of the Veterans Association (such as in Thai Nguyen, Ha Tinh, Ha Tay, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Can Tho, etc.). The health insurance agency signs inter-sectoral documents through associations and unions to mobilize its members to participate in health insurance. The Association is responsible for making a list, collecting money from its members and transferring it to the health insurance agency to make cards, and at the same time participating in monitoring the process of ensuring the rights of members.

In addition to the above models, some provinces also implement health insurance for some other small groups: people on maternity leave (Hai Phong, Soc Trang, Thai Nguyen, Quang Tri), relatives of employees in agencies and units participating in compulsory health insurance, commune officials, and social insurance subjects.

During the 2003-2008 period, in order to focus on focal points and strengthen the system of agencies implementing social security policies, on January 24, 2002, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 20/2002/QD-TTg transferring Vietnam Health Insurance to Vietnam Social Security [71]; on December 6, 2002, the Government issued Decree No. 100/2002/ND-CP stipulating the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of Vietnam Social Security [18].

Implementing Decree No. 100/2002/ND-CP of the Government, the organizational structure of Vietnam Social Insurance is organized vertically from the central to the district level. To implement Unemployment Insurance at the central level, there is an Unemployment Insurance Board and Social Insurance of provinces and centrally-run cities have Unemployment Insurance Divisions, and districts and towns are responsible for organizing the implementation of Unemployment Insurance in their respective areas. With the above organizational structure, for the first time, the Unemployment Insurance sector has a specialized organization to carry out its tasks.

After the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance issued Joint Circular No. 22/2005/TTLT-BYT-BTC dated August 24, 2005, Guiding the implementation of health insurance

Voluntary health insurance [13], along with maintaining and expanding the participation of students, voluntary health insurance has focused on other target groups such as households, members of associations, unions and relatives of participants in voluntary health insurance.

A notable highlight is that the implementation of the People's Health Insurance is carried out in most localities. Localities with a fairly high number of People's Health Insurance cards issued are: Thai Nguyen, Thua Thien Hue, Binh Thuan, Kien Giang, Dong Thap, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, etc. Although the results in each place are different, it can be said that this is the right direction, consistent with the orientation of the population situation in our country, laying the foundation for expanding and developing the People's Health Insurance implemented according to the current Law on Health Insurance.

Third, on the organization and management of social assistance for farmers. The organization and management of the implementation of cooperative social assistance and cooperative social assistance for farmers are part of the general social assistance system, directly implemented by the labor, war invalids and social affairs sector. This system is organized from the central to the grassroots level, aiming to implement support policies, including cooperative social assistance and cooperative social assistance from the state budget.

For community social assistance, it is carried out by social organizations and individuals. In recent years, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Red Cross have often provided emergency assistance when natural disasters occur, such as helping people affected by storms, floods, natural disasters, etc. In addition, participation in community social assistance is also carried out by international organizations, businesses, and philanthropic individuals.

All of these create a social security system in Vietnam with the core being social security from the state budget.

Fourthly, the inspection, examination and handling of violations of the law on social insurance, health insurance, social assistance in general, and social insurance, health insurance and social assistance for farmers in particular have been strengthened. Specialized inspection agencies of ministries and branches with the function of state management of social insurance and health insurance have coordinated with Vietnam Social Security to organize inspections and examinations of the implementation of social insurance and health insurance laws at labor-using units and medical examination and treatment facilities, preventing and strictly handling violations.

3.1.4. Results of farmers' participation in the current social security system

3.1.4.1. Farmers' participation in social security according to the contribution-benefit principle

Firstly, about the participation situation. With the policies and guidelines of the Party and State being built and gradually perfected as above, the subjects participating in the system

The social insurance system based on the contribution-benefit principle in general, including the increasing number of farmers.

Table 3.2. below shows the results of the number of people participating in social insurance, health insurance in general, and social insurance and health insurance in particular, including farmers. Although the number of people participating in social insurance and health insurance is increasing, compared to the number of workers in the informal sector and farmers, the rate of participation in social insurance and health insurance in this sector is still very low. According to calculations from statistical documents and the author's estimates nationwide, the coverage rate of social insurance is only about 0.38%, while the coverage rate of health insurance is only about 10.3%.

Table 3.2: Social insurance and health insurance participation status of farmers in Vietnam

2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
1. Number of formal sector workers (thousand people)	11,580.1	12,226.6	13,498.5
Number of people participating in social insurance	8,500	8,800	9,400	10,104.5	10,436.8
Social insurance participation rate (%)	73.40	71.97	69.64
2. Number of workers in the informal sector (thousand people)	30,629.50	37,095.40	36,903.4		50,000*
Number of people participating in social insurance	6.110	41,193	67,319	96,400	134,000
Social insurance participation rate (%)	0.019	0.11	0.18		0.38
3. Total population (thousand people)	85,118.70	86,025.00	86,932.5		87,840.00
Number of people participating in health insurance in general	39,700	50,070	51,140		60,000
Number of health insurance for the poor and health insurance for the poor	29,100	34,700	47,000
Number of participants in health insurance	10,600	15,300	4,200
Health insurance coverage rate (%)	19.00	29.80	10.5		10.30
4. Social insurance and health insurance for farmers through investigation
Number of investigators (people)				258
Social insurance participation rate (%)				9.3
Health insurance participation rate (%)				28.8

Source: Department of Social Insurance 2010, Vietnam Social Security 2013; results of author's investigation and survey 2011

* Author's estimate.

According to the author's survey data in the three provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh, the rate of participation in social insurance and health insurance of farmers is higher than that of the general population.

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