Evaluating the social welfare model of Vietnam: An introductory overview

Abstract

The focus of this article is on the social welfare model of Vietnam in an evaluative manner, with the aim of introducing this system to researchers and academics. It is argued that the right to social welfare is a fundamental human right as prescribed by the United Nations and Article 34 of the Constitution of Vietnam. Against this backdrop, this article first provides an overview of the current social welfare model in Vietnam, with a particular focus on domestic legislation. Fundamentally, it is noted that this system is based on four pillars: employment, income, and poverty reduction; social insurance; social assistance for individuals in exceptionally difficult situations; and guaranteeing a minimum level of access to certain basic social services. Secondly, the article evaluates the ways in which the government plans to improve this system based on their outlook for 2021–2030. This is fashioned on five pillars, namely: 1) the labor market, employment and income, supply and demand, infrastructure and projections for the labor market, labor market data, and employment services; 2) social insurance, encompassing mandatory, supplemental, and elective plans; 3) social assistance, encompassing emergency and ongoing help as well as social care; 4) a social welfare floor with a “basket” of necessities; and 5) expert social work for social welfare. Finally, the article underlines the way forward for Vietnam to materialise the aim of ameliorating their social welfare system through human rights and sustainable development.