Businesses owe social insurance, 8 workers in distress

Hard life after being owed social insurance by businesses

Ms. Tran Ngoc Thao (born in 1986, currently renting a room near An Thanh Industrial Cluster, Thuan An ward, Ho Chi Minh City), after giving birth and being owed social insurance, has not been able to return to the labor market for more than 3 years. Previously, Ms. Thao had about 2 years of working as a worker at the wood production factory of Sang Production - Import-Export - Trading Co., Ltd. Branch (in Thuan An ward, Ho Chi Minh City).

At the end of 2022, Ms. Thao took maternity leave to give birth. However, when applying for social insurance benefits, she was informed that she did not meet the conditions. The reason was that Sang Production - Import-Export - Trading Co., Ltd. Branch did not pay social insurance for employees. This is unreasonable, because in the salary scale, the company deducts social insurance money from her every month.

Because she did not receive maternity benefits, Ms. Thao's family life faced many difficulties.

“I did not receive maternity benefits, I did not have money to buy milk and diapers for my child. I just gave birth and cannot work, I have no income. The whole family lives in poverty with my husband's salary. When I am sick and have to go to the hospital, I am not covered by health insurance,” Ms. Thao confided.

Although the labor contract ended in March 2024, the company did not finalize the social insurance book. Currently, Ms. Thao wants to go back to work but is worried about not being able to pay social insurance.

Also owed social insurance by the above company is the case of Ms. Ngo Thi Huyen Giao (born in 1969, residing in Thuan Giao ward, Ho Chi Minh City). According to Ms. Giao, the company did not pay compulsory social insurance for her, and at the same time did not finalize and return the social insurance book.

“I am old and in very difficult circumstances. Although I do many other jobs, I am not allowed to participate in social insurance. Currently, I am often sick and go for medical examination and treatment without health insurance coverage” - Ms. Giao said.

Enterprise owes social insurance to 8 workers

According to the Lai Thieu Social Insurance Agency, Sang Production - Import-Export - Trading Co., Ltd. Branch (Thanh Hoa B neighborhood, Thuan An ward) has not paid social insurance for Ms. Tran Ngoc Thao. Lai Thieu Social Insurance Agency has not closed social insurance books for Ms. Thao because Sang Production - Trading Co., Ltd. Branch has not fully completed the procedures for declaring labor reduction. In addition to Ms. Thao's case, this enterprise also has to pay insurance for 7 other workers with a total amount of 600 million VND.

Talking to a reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, a representative of the Binh Duong Trade Union Legal Consulting Center (a unit directly under the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation) informed that the workers who are owed social insurance are all migrant workers, and their lives are still difficult. Some people are old, often sick and have to go to the hospital but are not covered by insurance. In some cases, having children does not receive maternity benefits, and life also faces many difficulties.

Binh Duong Trade Union Legal Consulting Center said that the unit has supported 8 workers to carry out dossiers to sue the head office of Sang Production - Import-Export - Trading Co., Ltd. in Thu Duc ward to the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City Region 2. In February 2026, the court sentenced 2 cases where workers won the lawsuit, forcing the defendant, Sang Production - Import-Export - Trading Co., Ltd., to pay social insurance for employees. However, the judgment has not yet been enforced. Other cases are in the process of acceptance and trial.

According to the Binh Duong Trade Union Legal Consulting Center, during the lawsuit, the representative of Sang Production - Import-Export - Trading Co., Ltd. was not present at the court. This enterprise has its headquarters in Thu Duc ward, Ho Chi Minh City and a factory in Thanh Hoa B neighborhood, Thuan An ward, but cannot be contacted. This enterprise has no goodwill to resolve the case, showing signs of delaying social insurance contributions for employees.

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