The law revisions focus on stabilizing workers’ living conditions, ensuring citizens’ housing rights, and protecting the rights of disadvantaged people. 

Concentrating on stabilizing the lives of workers, ensuring citizen’s housing rights

The National Assembly deputies have paid close attention to the draft Law on Social Insurance because social insurance is the most important pillar of the social security system. The 2013 Constitution stipulates for the first time in Article 59 that the State creates equal opportunities for citizens to benefit from social welfare. The revised law on Social Insurance expands the categories of people buying social insurance, intending that all people have social insurance cards in the future. Specifically, the revised law says that workers doing seasonal jobs or short-term contracts under 3 months must buy social insurance. The new regulation will ensure social welfare for workers when they are unable to work. The revised law also covers part-time officials at the communal, ward, and township level. Ho Thi Thuy, a National Assembly deputy from Vinh Phuc province, says: “Including part-time communal officials in the list of compulsory social insurance shows the State’s concern for local administrations. The Government should strictly manage the beneficiaries to avoid burdening the State budget.”

Approval and strict enforcement of the revised Law on Social Insurance will help meet the target of 50% of the labor force having social insurance, equivalent to 24.4 million people by 2020.

The revised Housing Law supplements the Constitution’s regulations on a citizen’s right to have a house to live in, the right of house ownership, and the rights and obligations of house owners and occupants. The revised law specifically stipulates social housing policy for different strata. For example, low-income and poor people are eligible to buy or rent low-cost houses with State funding.

Better protecting the rights of disadvantaged people

Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong said the revision and supplement of the Civil Code acknowledges and better protects the rights of individuals and legal entities in civil affairs. The revised law contains new legal mechanisms to better protect the rights of disadvantaged people, people with behavior disorders, and legal guardians of immature people. The revised law specifies that all individuals and organizations have the right to form associations and do business.

The National Assembly will discuss the approval of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen said: “The approval of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disability will be a milestone which strengthens the legal basis for people with disabilities to be equal to other people in society and contributes to national development. The Convention encourages community involvement in helping people with disabilities. It will reduce the burden on the State, enhance social responsibility, and encourage the involvement of people with disabilities in all social activities.”

Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Affairs Tran Van Hang said: “The approval of the Convention matches the 2013 Constitution, which declares that all people have the rights\ to be free of torture, violence, and other cruel, inhuman acts that violate their bodies, health, dignity, or honor.”

Protecting human rights depends on several conditions including economics, politics, law, and culture, of which law is the most important. Human rights defined by law are compulsory, acknowledged, and protected by society. The approval of revised laws at the 8^th session of the 13^th National Assembly will better guarantee the realization of human rights.