Nha Trang to host meeting of ASEAN social security board

Khanh Hoa (VNA) – The 35th ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA) Board Meeting will take place in Nha Trang city, in the south central province of Khanh Hoa, on September 18-21. 

The Vietnam Social Security (VSS) said it will organise the event and take over the rotating ASSA chairmanship from Thailand on the occasion of the association celebrating its 20th founding anniversary (1998-2018).

It is the fifth time the VSS has chaired the ASSA Board Meeting. It first undertook the chairmanship during the 2002-2003 term and successfully organised the ASSA Board Meeting in 1999, 2002, 2005, and 2010.

This year’s meeting will revolve around the theme of opportunities and challenges to ASEAN social security systems amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the free movement of labour.

A ceremony and photo exhibition to mark the ASSA’s 20th founding anniversary is scheduled as part of the plenary meeting on the opening day.

The second working day will see sessions of the ASSA board and secretariat, and an ASSA award ceremony to honour achievements in the field. Also on the day, the ASSA chairmanship will be handed over to Vietnam.

Following the VSS’ initiative backed by the ASSA secretariat and members, the meeting will adopt a joint statement on its goals and regional cooperation orientations in line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

The event is expected to bring together 170 delegates, including representatives from the Vietnamese Government, ASSA President and Secretary General, leaders of national social security institutions, and diplomats from ASEAN member states.

Speakers from the International Social Security Association (ISSA), the World Bank, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the National Pension Service (NPS) of the Republic of Korea, and the University of Waikato in New Zealand are also scheduled to participate.

The ASSA was found in 1998 following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Bangkok, Thailand on February 13 that year and involving heads of social security institutions from five countries, namely the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Representatives from Laos and Vietnam also attended the signing ceremony as observers.

Later the year, the VSS became a member of the association.

The association was formed to promote the development of social security in the region in consonance with the aspirations, laws, and regulations of each member country; to promote regional cooperation in all areas of social security; and to exchange experience and information on social security.

It works in cooperation with other social security institutions in the region and East Asia, as well as with similar or related social security organisations in any part of the world; and cooperates in the protection, promotion, and development of social security schemes through training, seminars, consultations, and dialogues, among others.

Its members now comprise of 19 social security institutions from 10 ASEAN nations. –VNA