NA hears reports on ratifying UN conventions, discusses draft bill

Reports on ratifying two UN conventions and the draft revised Law on Social Insurance were tabled during the ongoing 8th session of the 13th National Assembly on October 23.

A deputy from Vinh Phuc province speaks at the session.

President Truong Tan Sang delivered reports on ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The NA then heard a report on several matters related to the ratification by Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Pham Thi Hai Chuyen, and another on examination of the ratification by Chairman of the NA’s Committee for External Relations (NACER), Tran Van Hang.

One hundred and fifty eight countries signed the CRPD and 141 ratified it by March. Among ASEAN member countries, eight nations ratified the convention while Brunei and Vietnam signed but did not ratify it.

The ratification of the CRPD would demonstrate Vietnam’s strong political commitment to protecting and promoting the interests of people with disabilities while creating a legal basis for the country to affirm to the world its stance on the matter of persons with disabilities and human rights when Vietnam becomes a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 tenure.

After listening to President Sang’s report on ratifying the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), NA deputies heard Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang’s report on related matters and the NACER’s report on the examination over the ratification.

Hang said the ratification of the CAT is in accordance with the Party’s guidelines and policies, and the State’s laws in order to better ensure the implementation of fundamental human rights in the country.

Later in the day, the deputies heard the NA Standing Committee’s report on explaining, studying and adjusting draft amendments to the Law on Social Insurance.

During the seventh session, 167 suggestions and 16 ideas on the amendments were raised during the group and plenary working sessions respectively. Further ideas were also collected after the seventh session, which were then studied to be included in the draft amendments.

Deputies Nguyen Ngoc Phuong from Quang Binh province, Nguyen Van Son from Ha Tinh province and others agreed with the expansion of social insurance coverage. Instead of compulsory social insurance payment for employees with contracts’ over three months, businesses shall pay for the insurance for employees with contract terms from one to three months. This helps prevent losses in social insurance revenue and ensure employees’ insurance rights.

Several deputies agreed with the draft amendment that part-time officers of agencies at commune and town levels not obligated to buy social insurance. Meanwhile, others thought that the officers would benefit from compulsory social insurance as the subsidised amounts for jobs they currently receive, are lower than the regulated salary for grass-roots officers.

Deputy Tran Thi Hien from Ha Nam province and others worried about increased State budget spending when the compulsory social insurance coverage is expanded.

Deputies also raised their ideas about the adjustment on monthly pension. Many deputies agreed that from 2018, the monthly pension should be 45% of the employees’ average monthly social insurance payment during their 15 years for female and 20 years for male. They will receive a further 2% for each added year within the maximum rate of 75% of their total social insurance payment.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)