Ms. Bui Thi Lan, 37 years old (Yen Nghia ward, Ha Dong district, Hanoi) has more than 10 years of experience working as a hourly maid.
Previously, Ms. Lan lived at home in the fields, growing vegetables, and having more money to raise her two children with her husband. Ms. Lan's husband works as a security guard at Yen Nghia Industrial Park. Since 2012, Ms. Lan has not worked in the fields but has worked as a shift shift manager because she has seen many people in the village send to the districts to work as a shift manager with a much higher income than growing rice and vegetables.
Because her children are still young, Ms. Lan does not work full-time but only takes hourly help. From working for only 2 families in Van Quan ward (Ha Dong, Hanoi), Ms. Lan now works in rotation for 5 familiar families and cleaning for 3 companies in Ha Dong district.
"Helping my family with the hourly work I am receiving is 50,000 VND/hour; cleaning for the company is 70,000 VND/hour. With the contracts I am receiving, I have a stable income of about 15 million VND/month, much better than working in the fields, but I can balance and discuss work schedules to make it most convenient for both sides, said Ms. Lan.
Although her income has increased a lot compared to before, Ms. Lan said that she has not participated in social insurance (SI), so she has never enjoyed the accompanying benefits.
On June 15, Ms. Lan signed a 1-month labor contract with a company specializing in providing domesticity and human resources in Thanh Xuan district, and participated in compulsory social insurance.
"I can still find a regular job without going through the company, but I want to sign a contract to participate in social insurance. I have carefully researched the Social Insurance Law 2024, realizing that there are many benefits when participating in compulsory social insurance, so I decided to participate. Right after signing the labor contract 1 month ago, I participated in compulsory social insurance, said Ms. Lan.
From July 1, 2025, the Social Insurance Law 2024 will officially take effect with many notable new points, including regulations to expand the subjects participating in compulsory social insurance for seasonal and part-time employees.
According to the new regulation, employees working under contracts for 1 month or more are eligible to participate in compulsory social insurance, instead of 3 months as before.
When participating in compulsory social insurance, employees will enjoy 5 important social security benefits, including: Sickness regime; maternity; occupational accidents - occupational diseases, retirement; death.
According to experts, expanding social insurance coverage is necessary to aim for the goal of universal social insurance. Although the new regulation may make some seasonal workers worried about reduced income, the long-term benefits they receive are very significant.
By the end of May 2025, the number of social insurance participants reached 19.571 million people, an increase of 2.1 million people compared to the same period in 2024; of which 17,435,000 people participated in compulsory social insurance and 2,136,000 people participated in voluntary social insurance.
