Dostęp osób starszych mieszkających na obszarach wiejskich Wietnamu do świadczeń z ubezpieczenia społecznego
Access to Social Security for the Rural Elderly in Vietnam

Summary/Abstract: The current situation of the socio-economic life of the elderly now in part reflectsVietnam’s historical characteristics. The socio-economic structure in Vietnam has changeddrastically due to the development of market relations, migration, the transformationof traditional society and modern agricultural societies that are creating forms and levelsof socio-economic risk for the elderly. Based on the data from two communes, the articleshows that, older men are more likely to receive monthly social transfers than women.Elder ly people with higher education receive higher monthly social benefits than thosewith lower education. The elderly in rural areas surveyed hardly enjoy any social welfareprogrammes. The only beneficiaries are those who must be 80 years or older withouta pension or other allowance. Some older people are entitled to benefits but only fromprogrammes not reserved for the elderly. In order to live, the elderly still have to work,mainly in agriculture. This fact reflects the contrast and inadequacy of retirement andhealth regulations, which stipulate that workers must stop working at a certain age. Theenjoyment of social welfare differs between elderly groups with different personal andsocial characteristics. It can be said that elderly people in rural areas who are not entitledto social welfare benefits are “double disadvantaged”. This mandates that the policy shouldbe aimed at all the elderly in ensuring social welfare. Along with this, it is necessary tohave a roadmap to increase the level of monthly social welfare benefits for the elderly togradually achieve the minimum living standard because the current level of support forthe elderly in Vietnam is still much lower than the comparable level for the poor. Theprocess of population ageing in Vietnam is bringing great opportunities as well as greatchallenges, requiring new approaches to pensions, social pensions, health and the socialenvironment for the elderly in rural areas.

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