Opening of the ISSA Focal Point for Eurasia. Photo: SSPF

The ISSA Focal Point for Eurasia is being established to reinforce activities to develop social security in the sub-region and to respond to the need for targeted activities for ISSA member organizations from Eurasia. The new structure will use Russian as its main working language.

The Focal Point for Eurasia will be hosted by the State Social Protection Fund (SSPF) of Azerbaijan, and will work with ISSA member organizations and social security institutions in the country and in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The new Focal Point office will operate within the framework of the ISSA European Network (IEN).

The inauguration in Baku will be attended by high-level representatives of the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan including the Deputy Prime Minister Mr Elchin Efendiyev (on right in photo), the Chairman of the State Social Protection Fund Mr Salim Muslumov, the Secretary General of the ISSA, the IEN Chairperson Mr Zbigniew Derdziuk and leaders of social security organizations from Eurasia, as well as from the broader European region.

Speaking in advance of the opening, the ISSA Secretary General, Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, expressed his hope that this new structure would enhance cooperation and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise among institutions in a region that is undergoing significant socio-economic changes that are impacting social security.

“The generous support of the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan for this new office demonstrates the priority given at the highest level to national and regional social security issues,” Mr. Konkolewsky stated in advance of the opening.

“We hope that this new Focal Point will contribute to the collaboration among member organizations and will enhance their administrative and operational capacities, to further develop social security and strengthen the ISSA’s presence in this dynamic region,” he said.

Social protection of migrant workers

The opening of the  Focal Point will be followed by a Technical Seminar on the theme of the  social protection of migrant workers and globalization. The seminar,  hosted by the SSPF and organized in close cooperation with the  International Association of Pension and Social Funds (IAPSF), will  build on the joint ISSA - IAPSF Declaration on Social Protection of  Migrant Labour and Globalization (2005), and will explore the  development of a multilateral approaches to strengthening the social  protection of migrant workers in the Eurasian region.

Further information

Website of the ISSA Focal Point for Eurasia >>

Baku Declaration:   ISSA-IAPSF Declaration on "Social protection of migrant labour and globalization"