In the context of increasingly developed forms of employment on digital platforms, expanding access to social insurance policies for this labor group is posing new requirements for policy design and implementation methods.
This is one of the key issues discussed by management agencies, domestic and international experts, and representatives of platform businesses at the international conference "Employment and social security for workers working on digital platforms in Vietnam", co-organized by Vietnam Social Security and the World Bank on September 22, 2026 in Hanoi.
Social security gap in the foundational job market
According to Mr. Christopher Sheldon, Director of Portfolio Management, World Bank in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, platform businesses in Vietnam are estimated to create job opportunities for about 2 million people.
The World Bank's survey of nearly 5,000 workers on many digital platforms in Vietnam shows that more than 90% of respondents consider work on the platform as their main source of income, while only about 1/5 participate in social insurance.
The survey also recorded the need to be protected against health risks, accidents, illnesses and ensure income in old age. Many workers are willing to contribute to the social insurance system if policies are more accessible, flexible and suitable for income characteristics.
These research results show that, besides job opportunities and income brought about by the foundation economy, ensuring social security for workers is an issue that needs to be concerned about in the process of developing new forms of employment.
However, expanding the coverage of social insurance for digital-based workers also poses specific challenges.
Workers can work simultaneously on multiple platforms, switching between platform jobs and traditional jobs or working irregularly. Income can fluctuate over time, workload and market demand.
The level of autonomy in work and the relationship between employees and the platform-providing enterprise also varies between job types.
These characteristics set out the requirement to research and fully identify basic labor groups, clarify the nature of employment and relationships between relevant subjects, thereby creating a basis for determining appropriate forms of social insurance participation.
Social insurance policies continue to be improved, expanding participation opportunities for workers
Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Deputy Director of Vietnam Social Security Tran Dinh Lieu emphasized that social insurance is one of the important pillars of the social security system. Expanding coverage and creating conditions for more and more workers to participate in and enjoy social insurance policies is an important task in the process of organizing the implementation of social security policies in Vietnam.
Mr. Lieu said that in 2025, the number of people participating in social insurance reached over 21.5 million people, equivalent to 45.1% of the working age population. In the first 8 months of 2026, the number of people participating in social insurance reached over 22.4 million people, equivalent to 46.7% of the working age population.
Along with developing social insurance and health insurance participants, Vietnam Social Security focuses on improving the quality of policy implementation, promptly and fully resolving regimes and benefits for participants and beneficiaries.
However, the development of flexible and non-traditional forms of employment continues to pose new requirements for expanding social insurance coverage.
For workers on digital platforms, as well as groups of workers working in the form of contract work, by day or part-time with stable income, the study of social insurance participation mechanisms suitable to job characteristics, income and labor relations is important in the process of expanding social insurance coverage.
From job characteristics to issues that need to be studied regarding social insurance policies
From the reality of the labor market, the presentations at the Workshop focused on clarifying legal and practical issues raised for social insurance policies for workers on digital platforms.
One of the important issues is to determine the form of social insurance participation suitable for each group of workers based on the nature of labor relations, job characteristics and legal regulations applicable to each specific case.
In addition, the determination of contribution levels, contribution methods and contribution responsibilities of the parties also needs to be considered in accordance with the characteristics of workers with fluctuating incomes, flexible working hours or simultaneously participating in many platforms.
The contents discussed at the Workshop also focused on identifying and managing subjects eligible for social insurance participation; reviewing regulations related to salaries and income as a basis for contributions; resolving social insurance regimes, dossiers and procedures for policy implementation.
The fact that workers can frequently switch between forms of employment also raises the requirement to study solutions to ensure the continuity of the participation process and social security rights.
For these issues, international experience provides more approaches for Vietnam to study and consider the possibility of applying appropriately to practical conditions.
