Delegates from ASEAN countries attended.

The SOMSWD meeting aims to discuss and exchange regional social security policies; especially policies for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups (such as people with disabilities, the elderly, women, children and other specific groups); At the same time, implement the decisions of the ASEAN Ministerial Conference in charge of social welfare and development (AMMSWD).

After online-held 4 years due to the impact of COVID-19, the 19th SOMSWD meeting was held in person with the full participation of officials in charge of social welfare, development and delegations from ASEAN member countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, and representatives of a number of relevant ministries and branches of Vietnam. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs takes the chair at the Meeting.

In the context of ASEAN's commitments on social welfare and development becoming more and more extensive, in the face of the impact of COVID-19, ASEAN member countries give many priorities to social security, social work and recovery from COVID-19. Vietnam has chosen the theme "Adaptive Social Security in the New Context" to contribute to the implementation of the ASEAN Vision Statement 2025, the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Master Plan to 2025 and "Not letting Who is left behind.”

The 19th SOMSWD meeting focused on main contents such as: reviewing and updating the implementation status of SOMSWD Work Plan activities for the period 2021 - 2025; Review relevant decisions from ASEAN conferences since the 18th SOMSWD meeting; focus on issues of gender mainstreaming, human trafficking, post-disaster resilience, and culture of prevention, ending all forms of malnutrition and the development of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045; discuss the integration of ASEAN documents and declarations...

​In his opening speech, Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Van Hoi shared some outstanding results in Vietnam's social security work such as: Labor market institutions have been gradually improved, becoming a basic solution for creating sustainable jobs; Social insurance gradually affirms its role as the main pillar of the social security system, the coverage of social insurance and unemployment insurance is constantly expanding; Social assistance policies have expanded beneficiaries, increased benefits and ensured a minimum level of basic social services (including: minimum education, minimum health care, clean water and access to information).

Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Hoi proposed that, in addition to reviewing activities that have taken place and developing plans for implementation for the next year, officials in charge of social welfare and development in ASEAN countries need to discuss to bring create initiatives and propose practical cooperation for the benefit of each country, for the harmonious development of the people-oriented, people-centered ASEAN community.

View of the meeting

At the meeting, initiatives and proposals on strengthening the role of SOMSWS were noted, aiming to become an important specialized agency of ASEAN with many practical cooperation activities in the field of social welfare, for the benefit of ASEAN benefit of each country and the harmonious development of the ASEAN community. In addition, delegates agreed to focus on promoting close partnerships between ASEAN and three countries including China, Japan, Korea and other international and regional partners; mobilize their maximum technical and financial support for social welfare and development channel activities in the coming time.