The plenary session, titled “Information Technology and Communication: Innovation in social security services”, was the first session of the event.

Participants heard presentations from experts from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Social Security Assocation (ISSA) and other social security associations in the world.

With the theme “Future of Work and Social Security”, Markus Ruck, an expert on social policy from the International Labor Organisation, brought an overview about changes in the labour market and impacts on countries’ social security goals.

Markus Ruck – ILO expert

According to Markus Ruck, the labour market is currently undergoing fundamental and breakthrough changes, namely: The emergence of completely new types of labour and nature of work; Rising inequality and instability; weakened social contracts in many countries. These are the result of increasingly complex changes in the labour market. In this context, social security is becoming increasingly important.

In order to strengthen social security, it is necessary to consider basic principles in the general context of the labour market, such as: consolidating social security in the context of the labour market changes; combining contributory and voluntary social security mechanisms.

Current challenges require more equitable and sustainable social security systems, which include foundational provisions that ensure the influence of all people as a civil right.

Predicting the future, Markus Ruck said that the demand for social security will increase. This is an important link of social contracts and building good working conditions for workers. Trends such as self-employment are also a group of objects that the social security system needs to focus on to ensure policies include these people.

Markus Ruck also said that many countries have been applying breakthrough solutions, but there is still much work to be done to continue building the social security system. Social security, including contributory and voluntary policies, is a prerequisite to ensure a good working environment for workers.

Although the minimum income policy can address some of the existing issues, it is not yet a comprehensive solution, especially when there are concerns about the balance between personal freedom and the needs of society, in which each individual is responsible for contributing to the social security of the entire people.

Therefore, the social security system of each country needs to be strengthened and adapted to effectively address new challenges in the future.

In the morning session, the delegates also heard the presentation titled “Utilising Big Data for Social Benefits" by Chandana Athauda (Dynamik Technologies); "Social security prediction in an era of awareness" by Tan Soo Eng (Silverlake Sistem Sdn Bhd); "Technology for social security: Trends and international vision" by Raul Ruggia-Frick, representative of the International Social Security Organisation./.