KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24, 2025 – In a significant move to strengthen protections for the region's workforce, Malaysia's Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), under the auspices of the Ministry of Human Resources, will host the ASEAN Social Security Symposium.
The pivotal event, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Sept 28, 2025, will bring together key stakeholders from across the region to address a critical issue: “Advancing Portability of Social Security Benefits for Migrant Workers in ASEAN.”
As ASEAN economies become increasingly integrated, the movement of labour across borders has become a significant and essential feature of the region's development. Migrant workers are indispensable contributors to the economies of both their host and home countries, filling crucial roles and sending vital remittances that support families and spur national development.
Beyond financial flows, their presence also fosters transfer of knowledge, exposure to new technologies, and improved work practices which can, in turn, strengthen productivity and enhance skills among local talents, ultimately contributing to sustainable economic growth.
However, despite their wide-ranging contributions, a major challenge they face is the potential loss of social security benefits such as pensions, disability, and survivor's insurance earned while working abroad. The portability of these benefits is a cornerstone of comprehensive social protection.
For many migrant workers, years of contributions to a host country's social security system can be lost upon returning home, often due to failing to meet minimum vesting periods or the inability of systems to transfer benefits across borders.
This gap in protection leaves many vulnerable in their old age or in the event of unforeseen disability, undermining their fundamental right to social security.
This symposium comes at a crucial time, building upon the ASEAN Declaration on the Portability of Social Security Benefits for Migrant Workers. The declaration underscores a unified commitment among member states to explore and establish mechanisms that allow for the seamless transfer and accessibility of these hard-earned benefits, ensuring that a worker’s contributions follow them throughout their career, regardless of location.
The half-day symposium will feature dynamic discussions with experts from across the ASEAN region, designed to move from policy to practice. The dialogue will begin by delving into the landmark ASEAN Declaration, exploring its profound implications and charting a course for its implementation.
Following this foundational discussion, experts will tackle the practical necessities for making portability a reality, focusing on the need to strengthen digital infrastructure. This includes creating connected, secure, and efficient systems for managing and transferring social security data and benefits across diverse national platforms.
The sessions will culminate in a forward-looking discussion on advancing regional coordination and establishing the bilateral and multilateral agreements that form the legal bedrock for a portable social security framework. The symposium aims to foster dialogue, share best practices, and lay the groundwork for tangible actions that will lead to a more equitable and secure future for migrant workers in the ASEAN community.
The event will be graced by the presence of YBhg Dato' Sri Dr Mohammed Azman bin Aziz Mohammed, Group Chief Executive Officer of PERKESO, and YBrs Encik Sutekno bin Ahmad Belon, Deputy Secretary-General (Operations) of the Ministry of Human Resources, who will deliver the opening and special addresses, respectively.
This symposium is a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and sustainable ASEAN, where the contributions of all workers are recognised and their rights protected, no matter where their work takes them.
This Social Security series is in collaboration with PERKESO.
