Al Khater opens the media centre of the forum.
DOHA: The World Social Security Forum (WSSF), the largest international meeting of social security policy-makers and senior managers representing governments, national social security administrations and international organisations from more than 120 countries begins at Doha Sheraton today.
The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani will inaugurate it.
Turki Mohammed Al Khater, President of Qatar’s General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority, told a press conference yesterday that Qatar was privileged to be the first Gulf country to host the event and has done everything possible to make it successful.
“There is shortage of social security workers in the region and most advanced countries. However, developing countries are suffering the problem of poor healthcare services,” he said.
“There is a need to prepare plans and programmes for social security funds. The panellists of the forum will discuss issues and ideas to develop social security funds and how to save them from bankruptcy. Qatar as a new player in the field of social security will benefit from such events to make new policies to cover all segment of the Qatari community.” He also opened a media centre for the forum, in the presence of officials.
Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, Secretary General of the International Social Security Association (ISSA), said, “The forum provides a unique opportunity to analyse and debate the role of social security as a key factor of social cohesion and stability, and of sustainable economic development.”
Despite challenges, the last few years have seen rapid development of social security systems to benefit millions of people. Improved administrations, backed by a strong political consensus, provide a solid basis for further extension to all people the fundamental right to social security.
The agenda will cover issues with a focus on how social security systems can better protect and support the livelihoods and dignity of people in all regions, Konkolewsky said. There will also be deliberations on effects of global financial crisis on the social security funds.
Errol Frank Stoove, President of ISSA, said the forum will be a historic event as “we are launching the ISSA Centre of excellence at the event.”
The centre will be virtual and cater to ISSA members. It will hold workshops and training programmes and exchange opportunities to improve and develop leadership and administration of social security schemes.
More than 1,000 delegates from are expected to attend the six-day event to discuss ways of improving the social security system world wide. The Peninsula
