The proposal to reduce the retirement age for pension benefits continues to receive many comments

According to the latest draft Law on Social Insurance, the drafting agency (Ministry of Home Affairs) continues to submit 2 options on the age for enjoying social pension benefits.

According to option 1, maintain the current regulations. People are entitled to social pension benefits when they meet the conditions: From 75 years old or older; not receiving pension or monthly social insurance allowance; having a written request for social pension benefits.

According to option 2, the Government decides to gradually adjust the age of enjoying social pension benefits down to 70 years old in accordance with socio-economic development conditions and the capacity of the state budget for each period; and at the same time submit to the National Assembly Standing Committee to decide to gradually adjust the age of enjoying social pension benefits down to below 70 years old when the necessary conditions are met.

These two options continue to receive many comments from units.

According to the summary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, many agencies and units have chosen option 2, including: the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Social Insurance Management Council, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Government Inspectorate; and many delegations of National Assembly deputies, People's Committees and Departments of Home Affairs of localities such as Tay Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai, Lang Son, Bac Ninh, Tuyen Quang, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Dien Bien, Ho Chi Minh City...

Meanwhile, some units proposed choosing option 1. The units include the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of National Defense, the Vietnam Women's Union, the Nghe An National Assembly Delegation, the Hai Phong City National Assembly Delegation, the Quang Ninh Department of Home Affairs and the Gia Lai Department of Home Affairs.

These units proposed to choose the option of keeping the current regulations, and at the same time stipulating "The National Assembly Standing Committee decides to gradually adjust the age of enjoying social pension benefits based on the Government's proposal" to clearly show the authority of the National Assembly Standing Committee on this content.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said it has recorded comments and submitted both options to the Government for consideration.

The Thanh Hoa Provincial National Assembly Delegation also expressed its opinion that there are two options regarding the age for enjoying social pension benefits. This is a content that may directly affect the state budget, local budget, balance the social insurance fund as well as management and organizational obligations.

The Thanh Hoa Provincial National Assembly Delegation assessed that the Submission stating that the draft does not supplement new policies on the use of state budget and does not generate additional financial resources for the implementation of the Law is not really consistent with the content of the draft.

Therefore, the delegation proposed that the drafting agency supplement specific quantitative assessment of the number of expected beneficiaries, support levels, support time, central and local budget needs; and at the same time clearly assess the impact on fund balance, data conversion costs and human resources for implementation at the grassroots level.

Regarding this content, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that Clause 3, Article 21 only offers two options regarding the agency deciding on adjusting the age for enjoying social pension benefits when conditions are met, including the National Assembly Standing Committee or the Government, so it does not generate financial resources for the implementation of the Law.

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