According to numerous readers of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, the retirement age should be lowered, or pension payouts should strictly mirror contribution levels without penalty deductions for early retirement.
In a report evaluating the implementation of lump-sum social insurance payouts under Resolution No. 93/2015/QH13, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs stated that between 2016 and 2021, a total of 4,058,317 workers nationwide requested and received lump-sum social insurance settlements. On average, nearly 700,000 workers claim lump-sum payouts annually, with figures rising steadily each year at an average rate of 11.6%. Notably, workers from the non-state enterprise sector accounted for 90.74% of total lump-sum claimants during this period.
In an effort to retain workers within the social security net, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has submitted the draft amended Law on Social Insurance to the Government. A focal point of worker attention is the proposal to lower the minimum contribution duration for pension eligibility. According to the Ministry, reducing required contribution years provides pension access for late entrants (starting at ages 45–47) or workers with discontinuous contributions who would otherwise fail to accumulate the 20-year threshold upon reaching retirement age.
Commenting on this proposal, Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper received extensive reader feedback. The consensus indicates that the Law on Social Insurance must rectify core shortcomings, particularly concerning retirement age ceilings and minimum contribution requirements, to retain workers in the system. An anonymous reader shared: "Our sincere thanks to Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper for standing alongside workers and understanding our workplace and daily life hardships."
A reader named Thanh cited a real-world example: "At the primary school where I teach, there are educators with over 30 years of service earning under 10 million VND per month. They are counting down the days to take early retirement. The school struggles to assign them roles, and having frail teachers stand in class is exhausting for them and disadvantageous for students." Reader Dang Viet Duan suggested that after contributing for 20 years, workers should be allowed to retire based on personal health and family circumstances. The law should not rigidly dictate retirement age, but allow workers autonomy once they have completed 20 years of social insurance contributions. Echoing this view, reader Luong Hong Tam proposed: "Lower the retirement age or provide pensions proportional to actual contributions without percentage penalties for early retirement. Imposing penalty deductions for early retirement feels unreasonable, as it deducts from funds workers contributed themselves."
Source: Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper.
