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

TheVietnam Social Security (VSS) said it will organise the event and take over therotating ASSA chairmanship from Thailand on the occasion of the associationcelebrating its 20th founding anniversary (1998-2018).

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

Thisyear’s meeting will revolve around the theme of opportunities and challenges toASEAN social security systems amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the freemovement of labour.

Aceremony and photo exhibition to mark the ASSA’s 20th founding anniversary isscheduled as part of the plenary meeting on the opening day.

Thesecond working day will see sessions of the ASSA board and secretariat, and an ASSAaward ceremony to honour achievements in the field. Also on the day, the ASSAchairmanship will be handed over to Vietnam.

Followingthe VSS’ initiative backed by the ASSA secretariat and members, the meetingwill adopt a joint statement on its goals and regional cooperation orientationsin line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

Theevent is expected to bring together 170 delegates, including representativesfrom the Vietnamese Government, ASSA President and Secretary General, leadersof national social security institutions, and diplomats from ASEAN memberstates.

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

TheASSA was found in 1998 following the signing of a memorandum of understanding inBangkok, Thailand on February 13 that year and involving heads of socialsecurity institutions from five countries, namely the Philippines, Indonesia,Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Representatives from Laos and Vietnam alsoattended the signing ceremony as observers.

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

Theassociation was formed to promote the development of social security in theregion in consonance with the aspirations, laws, and regulations of each membercountry; to promote regional cooperation in all areas of social security; and toexchange experience and information on social security.

Itworks in cooperation with other social security institutions in the region andEast Asia, as well as with similar or related social security organisations in anypart of the world; and cooperates in the protection, promotion, and developmentof social security schemes through training, seminars, consultations, anddialogues, among others.

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