Khanh Hoa (VNA) – DeputyPrime Minister Vu Duc Dam has affirmed Vietnam is working towards a sustainable and effective socialsecurity system to meet the increasing demand of people, contributing tosocio-economic development.

He made the remarks atthe 35th ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA) Board Meeting that opened onSeptember 18 in NhaTrang, the resort city of Khanh Hoa in central Vietnam.

“Vietnam wishes to share experiencewith regional and global social security associations to create sustainableenvironment to develop social insurance for all workers and health insurancefor all people,” Deputy PrimeMinister Dam said. 

The ASSA Board Meeting,hosted by the Vietnam Social Security (VSS), brought together about 170delegates, including ASSA President, leaders of national social securityinstitutions and diplomats from ASEAN member states. 

The event’s main theme is the challenges andopportunities of ASEAN social security institutions in the context of the 4th IndustrialRevolution and free flow of labour.

Addressing the event, DeputyMinister, Director General of VSS Nguyen Thi Minh stressed the need forASSA members to work together for sustainable social security for all in theASEAN Community.

“ASEAN social securityis entering a new phase of development with opportunities and challenges due tothe revolution 4.0 and the free flow of labour in region. Therefore, ASSA needsto have a creative approach and a long-term vision to fully use the experienceand technology of the members,” said Minh.

President of ASSA Suradej Waleeittikultold the event he believed with the sharing of knowledge and experience fromorganizations and experts, the meeting will put forth new policies regardingsocial security in the context of the 4th industrial revolution and free flowof labour, contributing to building a strong, united and effective socialsecurity community in ASEAN.

The ASSA was found in1998 following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement in Bangkok, Thailand onFebruary 13 that year, involving heads of social security institutions fromfive countries - the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.Representatives from Laos and Vietnam also attended the signing ceremony asobservers. Later the year, the VSS became a member of ASSA.

The association was formed to promote thedevelopment of social security in the region in consonance with the aspirations,laws and regulations of the member countries, promote regional cooperation inall areas of social security and exchange experience and information on socialsecurity.

It works in cooperation with other socialsecurity institutions in the region and East Asia, and with similar or relatedorganisations of social security in any part of the world. It cooperates in theprotection, promotion and development of social security schemes throughtraining, seminars, consultations and dialogues, among others.

ASSA members now comprise 19 social securityinstitutions from ten ASEAN nations.

This is the fifth timethe Vietnam Social Security has chaired the ASSA Board Meeting. It undertookthe chairmanship during the 2002 – 2003 term and successfully organised the ASSABoard Meeting in 1999, 2002, 2005 and 2010.-VNA