VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi’s authorities have ordered the city’s inspectors to inspect enterprises with long overdue social insurance premiums. 

Social insurance transactions in Cau Giay District, Hanoi. – VNA/VNS Photo Duong Ngoc

The inspections will be conducted next month at 284 enterprises that are late in paying their social insurance premiums by seven to 35 months.

The total debt owed by these companies amounts to VND100 billion (US$4.3 million).

 Among those being inspected are bridge cooperative No.18 under Civil Engineering Construction Corporation 1 (owing over VND10 billion or $435,000); Quang Trung Construction Investment Joint Stock Company (owing over VND1.9 billion or $82,600); Thang Long Construction Mechanical Corporation (owing nearly VND1.5 billion or $65,200); Infrastructure Construction Investment Joint Stock Company (owing more than VND1.4 billion or $60,900); A Dong Construction Investment Corporation and Hong Nam Mechanical Joint Stock Company (owing VND1 billion each or $43,500).

Many enterprises on the inspection list were previously inspected but continue to delay paying their debts.

Deputy Chief Inspector of the city Nguyen Anh Tuan said the inspection will not interfere with the businesses’ operations.

After receiving the inspection plan, if the company pays the debt and Hanoi’s social insurance agency approves the payment, the inspection will be discontinued, he said. 

According to Hanoi’s Social Insurance, more than VND2.8 trillion ($122 million) in premiums for social insurance, unemployment insurance and health insurance are owed as of November this year, making up 8.47 per cent of the collections plan.

Hanoi is one of the localities with the highest social insurance, unemployment insurance and health insurance premium debts, directly affecting the legal benefits of nearly 760,000 laborers.

Prolonged debt repayment is blamed on loopholes in the civic procedure for cases involving social insurance premium debts. Suing enterprises that owe such debts is fraught with procedural challenges. 

Between January 2016 and November 2017, the city’s Social Insurance agency handed over documents for 492 units owing debts to trade unions to pursue lawsuits to ensure workers’ benefits, but none of these cases have been handled by the court. 

Source: VNS