THANH
HOA (VNS)
— More than 3,000 businesses in the
central province of Thanh Hoa have failed to pay social and health insurance
premiums for their workers in the first half of this year, according to the
provincial social insurance agency.
Their
debts amount to over VND370 billion (US$17.6 million).
Top of
the list include HANCORP.2 Company, a branch of the Ha Noi Construction
Corporation, with a total debt of VND10.3 billion ($490,000) and the Licogi 15
Bim Son Company with a total debt of VND7.3 billion.
Director
of the provincial Social Insurance Agency Le Thanh Sinh told Lao Dong (Labour)
Newspaper these businesses' violations seriously violated the legitimate rights
and interests of thousands of workers, he said.
Workers
at enterprises that do not pay social insurance risk being not able to get sick
pay, maternity and paternity leave or compensation after suffering from
workplace accidents.
Deputy
Director General of HANCORP.2 Construction Company Cao Van Tan said economic
difficulties had caused a lot of challenges for businesses, but the company had
to managed to pay workers' salaries.
Provincial
authorities have fined many companies for not paying insurance debts over the years,
but the punishment was not strong enough.
Under
current regulations, businesses that do not pay social and health insurance
fees for workers are subject to criminal prosecution.
The
maximum administrative fine for such violators is only VND30 million
(US$1,430), while insurance premiums can total billions of dong.
The
problem has also been recorded in other localities nationwide.
Up to
half of the 300,000 businesses nationwide failed to pay social insurance
premiums for their workers, according to the Viet Nam Social Insurance
Collection Board.
Head of
the board, Tran Dinh Lieu, said at a recent press briefing that the number of
enterprises owing social insurance premiums was increasing, and the debt amounted
to trillions of dong.
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