World Social Security Forum opens today

By Salman Siddiqui/Staff ReporterThe World Social Security Forum (WSSF) Qatar 2013 will open today.The event will be attended by more than 1,000 social security professionals from around 120 countries to debate the future of social security systems worldwide. HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, is expected to officially inaugurate the forum. Addressing a press conference yesterday, senior officials said the highlights of the third WSSF forum would include the launch of the International Social Security Association Guidelines and a virtual ISSA Centre for Excellence.  WSSF is the largest international meeting of social security policy-makers and senior managers representing government ministries, national social security administrations and international organisations from more than 120 countries. Turki Mohamed al-Khater, president, General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority, said that Qatar was privileged to be the first Gulf country to host the important forum.The senior official said that the challenges of social security funds and maintaining dignified living standards after reaching retirement age would be discussed at the various sessions of the forum. When asked about the state of social security system in the country, al-Khater said that “Although Qatar is still new in this area and we look to expand our social security system to all our Qatari citizens in the first phase. In the last phase maybe, we will expand this to the expats also.”Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, secretary general ISSA, said the forum will provide a platform for social security professionals to share their knowledge, recognise good practices and identify successful strategies to make administrative excellence a reality everywhere.“It will provide 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.” The agenda will cover how social security systems can better protect and support the livelihoods and dignity of people in all regions, Konkolewsky added. “There will also be deliberations on the effects of global financial crisis on the social security funds.”Errol Frank Stoove, president ISSA, said that the Doha edition of WSSF would be ‘historic’ because it would launch the ISSA Centre of excellence that took three years in the making. The ‘virtual’ centre will provide ISSA member organisations with tailored practical support to implement ISSA guidelines in their efforts to develop well-governed and high-performing social security administrations. “The centre will be virtual and cater to the needs of all ISSA members worldwide. It will hold workshops, training programmes and exchange opportunities to improve and develop leadership and administration of social security schemes.” A commemorative stamp issued in co-operation with Qatar Postal Corporation to commemorate the WSSF was also launched yesterday. Al-Khater presented the memorial plaques of the postal stamps to Stoove and Konkolewsky. Khalid Fikri, Head of Stamps Unit, said that 40,000 stamps of QR3 denominations had been printed that carry the WSSF logo and would be available at all postal branches from today.