Khanh Hoa, September 18 - The 35th ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA) Board Meeting opened on September 18 in Nha Trang, the resort city of Khanh Hoa in central Vietnam. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam attended the event.

The event, hosted by the Vietnam Social Security (VSS), brought together more than 200 delegates, including representatives from ASSA President and Secretary General, leaders of national social security institutions and diplomats from ASEAN member states. 

In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Duc Dam said the free flow of labour creates job opportunities but also poses challenges to social security system, requiring suitable policies regarding social security for the workers.

It also requires countries to focus on human resource development to sharpen workers’ skills, meeting new requirements, he added.

Therefore, the event main theme on the challenges and opportunities of ASEAN social security institutions in the context of the 4^th industrial revolution and free flow of labour matches the current issues, he said.

He affirmed Vietnam is working towards a sustainable and effective social security system to meet the increasing demand of people, contributing to socio-economic development.

Vietnam wishes to share experience with regional and global social security associations to create sustainable environment to develop social insurance for all workers and health insurance for all people, he noted. 

In her remark, Nguyen Thi Minh, Deputy Minister, Director General of VSS, said ASEAN social security is entering a new phase of development with opportunities and challenges due to the revolution 4.0 and the free flow of labour in region. Therefore, ASSA needs to have a creative approach and a long-term vision to fully use the experience and technology of the members.

ASSA members should work together as one for sustainable social security for all in the ASEAN Community, according to her.

As a member of ASSA for 20 years, VSS has actively participated in meetings to share experience with ASSA members and international partners, Minh said, adding that this is to build VSS into a modern and professional in line with international practices and the people’s expectation.

Addressing the event, Suradej Waleeittikul, President of ASSA said he believed that with the sharing of knowledge and experience from organizations and experts, the meeting will put forth new policies regarding social security in the context of the 4th industrial revolution and free flow of labour, contributing to building a strong, united and effective social security community in ASEAN.

As part of the opening day, a ceremony and photo exhibition to mark the ASSA’s 20th founding anniversary will be held.

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.