It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the passing of Dalmer Hoskins, former Secretary General of the International Social Security Association (ISSA).

A historic Centenary International Labour Conference (ILC) was held in June 2019 in Geneva. More than 24 heads of state and 6,000 delegates followed the call of the International Labour Organization (ILO) to come together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ILO and debate strategies to meet the challenges brought about by transformations in the world of work.

The World Social Security Forum (WSSF) 2019 is taking form and is looking to become one the most important events ever for social security professionals and experts. From 14 to 18 October 2019, the ISSA will gather in Brussels, Belgium, high-level speakers from governments, social security institutions and international organizations, and more than 1,000 participants from around the world.

To support the BRICS countries in their efforts to strengthen cooperation on social security, the ISSA launched a Virtual Liaison Office in cooperation with the ILO.

The Regional Social Security Forum for Europe (RSSF) was an important milestone for social security in the region, attracting over 280 participants from 35 countries. Held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 14 to 16 May 2019, at the invitation of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a key message from the forum was the need for strong social security systems to protect people in a rapidly changing world of labour market transformations, demographic ageing and technological change.

The public social security institutions of Belgium have been awarded the ISSA Good Practice Award for Europe for digitizing and automating their services.

The ISSA Secretary General made an official visit to the People Republic of China in June at the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MoHRSS).

Since 2015, the ISSA Academy has offered diploma training courses on the ISSA Guidelines. These courses support the staff of the ISSA member institutions in applying the ISSA Guidelines by developing their knowledge and skills. The courses are delivered by ISSA Training Consortium partners spread across the world who deliver the courses in four different languages: CIESS in Spanish, EN3S in French, the ILO-International Training Centre in English and the Muhanna Foundation in Arabic.

A new ISSA report, Infrastructure investment: Challenges and opportunities for social security reserve funds, takes an important look at the world of infrastructure investment.

During the 108th International Labour Conference, six countries ratified international conventions linked to social security and occupational safety and health.

Building up to the WSSF2019, the ISSA has launched the #protectingyou2019 campaign to encourage its members, partners and other stakeholders to share via social media (and through other channels) stories of how social security protects people in a changing world.

• His Majesty King Mswati III, Head of State of the Kingdom of Eswatini
• Mr Maksim Topilin, Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Federation of Russia
• Sra Zulphy Santamaría Guerrero, Minister of Labor and Labor Development, Panama
• Dr Chi Kwong Law, Mr, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Hong Kong, China
• Mr Bruno Dalcomo, Secretário de Trabalho, Brazil
• Mr Akmadi Sarbassov, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, Republic of Kazakstan
• Mr Ali Jaafar Mohammed Alhilo, General Manager, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Department of Pension and Social Security for Workers, Iraq
• Mr Manuel de Jesús Moreira, Secretary of  State for Work and Social Security, Angola
• Ms Gina Magnolia Riaño Barón, Secretary General of the Ibero-American Social Security Organization
• Ms Orlanda Maria Santos Ferreira, President of the National Institution of Social Security,  Cape Verde
• Ms NG Wai Han, Deputy Director of the Labour Affairs Bureau, Macao, China

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan and International Social Security Association on partnership cooperation for the promotion of the Vision Zero campaign.

Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the International Social Security Association and the Ibero-American Organization of Social Security for exchange of information, organization of potential joint events, studies and research.

 
ISSA Academy workshop: Contribution collection and compliance
16–18 July 2019 | Algeria, Alger

ISSA Academy workshop: Good governance
23–25 July 2019 | Cotonou, Benin

Academy workshop: Administrative solutions for coverage extension and Contribution collection and compliance (focusing on difficult to cover groups)
24–26 July 2019 | Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

ISSA Academy workshop: Service quality
14–16 August 2019 | Swakopmund, Namibia

ISSA Academy workshop: Actuarial work for social security
14–16 August 2019 | Montevideo, Uruguay

World Social Security Forum
14–18 October 2019 | Brussels, Belgium

ISSA Academy workshop: Good governance
19–21 November 2019 | Seoul, Republic of Korea

ISSA Academy workshop: Information and communication technology
10–12 December 2019 | Kampala, Uganda