Hao said that as of the end of January, over 17.2 million people across the country had joined such insurance, up 640,000 compared to the same period of 2022.

Increase was seen in the number of both compulsory and voluntary social insurance, he said, adding that the number of people paying health insurance reached nearly 89 million, equivalent to 92.4% of the country’s population.

In the month, the social insurance agencies in the country's 63 cities and provinces coordinated with provincial post offices to pay over 30 trillion VND (1.27 billion USD) as monthly pensions and social insurance allowances for January and February for nearly 3.3 million people.

Meanwhile, 793,982 people got their social insurance benefits, and 45,445 others unemployment ones.

In the month, more than 14,15 million people received medical examination and treatment services using health insurance.

According to VSS General Director Nguyen The Manh, as part of the efforts to implement the Prime Minister’s Directive 03-CT-TTg asking the VSS to coordinate with ministries, agencies and localities to implement assigned tasks in realising social, health and unemployment policies, the VSS has asked its agencies to join hands with ministries and sectors to remove difficulties in the work and give scenarios, programmes and plans to implement the policies in a concerted and effective manner, ensuring the interest of the people and labourers./. VNA