Vietnam's National Assembly is poised for significant legislative changes as it prepares to revise key laws pertaining to its organizational structure and social security measures. These amendments, driven by the need for streamlining governmental operations and enhancing social insurance provisions, will be deliberated and voted on at the upcoming parliamentary meetings.
According to the National Assembly's Standing Committee, there is growing consensus on the necessity to amend the National Assembly Organization Law. Le Quang Tung, Secretary General of the National Assembly, highlighted during the committee's session the aim of these revisions is to reorganize and simplify the political apparatus, ensuring coherence with related adjustments to the Government Organization Law and local government regulations. The proposal seeks to refine guidelines surrounding the Ethnic Council, various parliamentary committees, and the roles of the National Assembly's Secretariat.
Through the proposed revisions, the National Assembly aims to clarify the delineation of powers among the National Assembly, its Standing Committee, and the Government. This will address discrepancies and practical challenges encountered since the last review was conducted back in 2016.
Hoang Thanh Tung, Chair of the Legal Committee of the National Assembly, expressed support for the revisions, stating their alignment with the political mandates outlined by the Communist Party’s resolutions. He emphasized the importance of adopting these changes to fulfill the necessity of institutionalizing the Party's directives and enhancing the overall efficiency of legislative and organizational operations.
These amendments come at a time when Vietnam is striving to modernize its legal and administrative framework. The draft law has been prepared comprehensively to conform with legislative requirements, civil liberties, and various international commitments Vietnam has entered. The draft's thorough preparation ensures it is well-positioned for consideration and approval by the National Assembly.
This legislative initiative not only embodies the leadership's goal of enhancing governmental efficiency but also addresses specific operational hurdles observed over the past years. For example, provisions concerning the appointment and roles of secretarial positions and their relationship with the Standing Committee are among the areas receiving focused revisions.
Under the new proposals concerning the Social Insurance Law, significant changes are also anticipated. For the year 2024, the law now includes provisions for voluntary social insurance covering maternity allowances, pensions, funeral subsidies, and occupational accident insurance — diverging significantly from previous iterations which only encompassed pensions and funeral support.
The recent draft indicates laborers participating in voluntary social insurance will be entitled to maternity allowances provided they have contributed for at least six months. This marks a progressive step considering the socio-economic importance of maternity support during parenting.
Among the key points outlined in the new laws are provisions for the paternal leave system and the responsibilities of employers and authorities to provide adequate support during maternity. These measures reflect Vietnam’s commitment to reinforcing social security and protecting workers' rights, especially as demographic changes increasingly necessitate comprehensive welfare systems.
On another front, amendments to bidding regulations have also been proposed. Under Decree No. 17/2025/ND-CP, specific guidelines will be refined to streamline the investment project bidding process. This decree revises former regulations from Decrees No. 23/2024/ND-CP and No. 24/2024/ND-CP, thereby clarifying roles and procedures for public bidding.
One of the notable revisions allows for greater flexibility when it involves international agreements or loan agreements concerning procurement yet to be regulated by the bidding law. This procedural change is expected to facilitate quicker responses to complex bidding situations by enabling the Government to determine when to invoke alternative procurement guidelines.
The amendments encompass steps for special bidding circumstances, emphasizing the need to document and justify any deviations from standard procurement practices, especially relating to projects of national significance or public safety.
With these transformative legislative proposals, Vietnam is setting the stage for not only improving the functionality of its national institutions but also aligning its legal framework with contemporary social and economic contexts. This alignment stems from the government's commitment to effective governance and responsive policymaking, aimed at achieving sustainable development goals.
The National Assembly's discussions on these draft amendments are scheduled for their next session, where they will be presented for approval. These deliberations reflect the legislative body’s continual efforts to adapt and refine the nation’s laws, ensuring they meet both domestic needs and international obligations. It is through these comprehensive reform efforts—targets of efficiency, transparency, and inclusiveness—that Vietnam hopes to pave the way for economic growth and social equity.