Enhancing Social Safety Nets for People Vulnerable to Economic Change

An APEC symposium next week will seek to enhance understanding of the underlying causes that lead people into socially and economically vulnerable situations.

The 'APEC Symposium on Strengthening Social Safety Nets under Rapid Socio-Economic Changes' was be held in Seoul, Korea, on August 23-24 as a forum for APEC Member Economies to share globalization experiences.

Director of the APEC Social Safety Net Capacity Building Network Head Institution, Dr. Seokpyo Hong, said global economic change can be unsettling if measures are not taken to ensure people have the individual capacity to be competitive in the modern economy.

"Globalization brings with it new opportunities but we need to make sure that the new economy is open to all people," Dr. Hong said at the meeting.

"Increasingly open global trading relationships and changes in the workplace environment means that demand for some skills have changed.

"Our regional community has a responsibility to ensure adequate social safety nets are in place to manage change, protect the vulnerable and help people to develop their work skills.

"This symposium has sought to share experience and best practices from APEC economies in response to rapid socio-economic changes.

"Ultimately the symposium will provide government and NGO representatives with an increased range of options for improving social safety nets in APEC Member Economies."

The symposium focused on the following areas:

Delegates to the symposium included representatives from APEC Member Economies and international forums including the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Development Program and international financial institutions as well as specialists from academic institutions.

The symposium was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Korea, the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and the APEC Social Safety Net Capacity Building Network.