Hà Nội to inspect enterprises owing social insurance payments

Social insurance transactions in Cầu Giấy District, Hà Nội. – VNA/VNS Photo Dương Ngọc

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 VNĐ100 billion (US$4.3 million).

Among those being inspected are bridge cooperative No.18 under Civil Engineering Construction Corporation 1 (owing over VNĐ10 billion or $435,000); Quang Trung Construction Investment Joint Stock Company (owing over VNĐ1.9 billion or $82,600); Thang Long Construction Mechanical Corporation (owing nearly VNĐ1.5 billion or $65,200); Infrastructure Construction Investment Joint Stock Company (owing more than VNĐ1.4 billion or $60,900); Á Đông Construction Investment Corporation and Hồng Nam Mechanical Joint Stock Company (owing VNĐ1 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 Nguyễn Anh Tuấn said the inspection will not interfere with the businesses’ operations. After receiving the inspection plan, if the company pays the debt and Hà Nộo’s social insurance agency approves the payment, the inspection will be discontinued, he said.

According to Hà Nội’s Social Insurance, more than VNĐ2.8 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. Hà Nội 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.