On August 26, in Minh Chau commune, Hanoi, Economic & Urban Newspaper in collaboration with ActionAid International in Vietnam (ActionAid), the Vietnam Association for Social Security Program and Project Support (AFV) and local authorities organized a field trip program and a seminar on "Dismantling Natural Disaster Risk Insurance - A fulcrum for informal workers".
This is an activity within the 2025 "Silent contributions" communication program to find solutions to ensure social security and protect livelihoods for people affected by natural disasters.
The seminar Site of natural disaster risk insurance - a fulcrum for informal workers is a continuation of the seminar on the topic 1: "Solutions to ensure livelihoods for workers after natural disasters.
Speaking at the opening of the seminar, Mr. Ta Viet Anh - Chairman of the Management Board of the Vietnam Social Security Program and Project Support Fund (AFV), Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee of the Communication Program - emphasized: The risk of natural disasters in Asia and Vietnam is increasing due to climate change, causing many serious consequences for the people. Meanwhile, participating in insurance for this type of risk is still a big gap.
According to Mr. Ta Viet Anh, many organizations, businesses, and people are not really interested in natural disaster insurance due to high costs and do not fully understand the benefits that this type of insurance brings. In the market, insurance companies have only implemented a few related types of insurance such as private home insurance (which may include natural disasters but are less common); crop and livestock insurance (mainly piloted in some localities); corporate property insurance (only large enterprises participate)...
"Through organizing a seminar in Minh Chau commune, we hope that Minh Chau people as well as informal workers in many other localities will better understand the rights and methods of participating in risk insurance, and at the same time, make recommendations to perfect the policy framework to attract farmers to participate in types of natural disaster risk insurance, helping them have a solid foundation and stable long-term livelihood" - Mr. Ta Viet Anh shared at the seminar.
At the seminar, experts, researchers and local representatives discussed two key groups of issues: the current situation of informal labor insurance participation and legal and policy solutions to develop post-disaster risk insurance.
The opinions emphasized that informal workers, who account for a high proportion in rural areas, rarely enjoy traditional social security regimes. Therefore, there needs to be a clear mechanism and policy for them to access risk insurance packages with simple, easy-to-understand information and practical benefits. Insurance is not only a "shield" against losses, but also a spiritual support, helping people feel secure in producing and recovering after storms and floods.
The organizing committee also hopes that through frank exchanges in Minh Chau commune, there will be more policy suggestions to encourage farmers to boldly participate in natural disaster risk insurance. This is not only a solution to support livelihoods in the short term, but also contributes to stabilizing rural economic development and reducing the burden on the State budget every time natural disasters occur.
