The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), represented by ECC Chairperson-Alternate and DOLE Undersecretary Jacinto V. Paras together with representatives of the twenty member institutions of the ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA) signed a joint statement manifesting the ASSA’s shared viewpoints and desire towards a united, stable and strong social security in the region during the 35th ASSA’s conference and board meeting on 19 September 2018 at the Nha Trang City, in the central province of Khanh Hoa, Vietnam.
The joint statement seeks to promote the development of social security among its member countries in line with their aspirations, laws and regulations and on the basis of consensus, that would grow for the best interest of the people and growth in the region.
Further, it aims to formalize and acknowledge the important efforts and achievements of the ASSA member organizations over the past 20 years that have contributed to social advancements and equality, thus playing a role in building the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community and ensuring the people’s social security interests.
According to Undersecretary Paras, the goals of the joint cooperation include economic and socio-cultural development, promotion of integration and innovation, and the reduction of the gap between regional and international social security organizations which will contribute to the effort towards a prosperous, advanced, and developed ASEAN region in the spirit of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.
The ASSA was established in 1998 following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement in Bangkok, Thailand on February 1998 involving heads of social security institutions from five countries – the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
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