14-04-2025
Muscat leads dialogue on social protection reform
MUSCAT: Amidst converging global crises - from demographic shifts to climate change - Muscat became the stage for a landmark dialogue on the future of social protection.
The Sultanate of Oman hosted the International Technical Symposium on Social Security Reforms, drawing over 150 participants from 16 countries and several United Nations organisations.
Jointly organised by Oman's Social Protection Fund, the International Social Security Association (ISSA), and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the two-day event opened the floor for critical conversations on inclusive, future-ready social security systems.
Dr Faisal bin Abdullah al Farsi, CEO of the Social Protection Fund, emphasised the urgency of structural reform: 'We are witnessing profound transformations. From population aging to climate change, we must move beyond patchwork solutions and embrace innovation.'
He highlighted Oman's bold steps under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, including the unification of pension systems and consolidation of benefits under one national framework.
ISSA President Dr Mohammad Azman praised Oman's role: 'Oman isn't just hosting a symposium - it's leading reform with vision. The nation's model is now a benchmark in the region, as seen in its recent ISSA 'Best Practice' award win for Asia and the Pacific.'
Kauthar al Bartmani, Director of Planning and Vision Follow-Up, noted the symposium's mission: to reflect on reforms, exchange expertise and tackle shared challenges across the region.
The symposium saw three key themes emerging. They are:
Population aging: By 2050, the global population aged 60+ is expected to double, placing strain on pensions and healthcare.
Informal economy: Millions work outside formal systems, exposing them to economic vulnerability.
Climate change: Environmental disruption disproportionately affects the poor, highlighting the need to link social protection with climate resilience.
A dedicated Omani session showcased the country's reform roadmap, presented by Deputy CEO Shabib bin Abdullah al Busaidy. Additional roundtables with the World Bank, Unicef, ILO and ISSA explored financing models and strategies for inclusive coverage.
Sessions spotlighted underserved groups - women, migrants and the self-employed - who remain outside the protection net in many countries.
In his closing remarks, ISSA President Dr Mohammad Azman said: 'Reform is not just about programmes. It's about people. True protection means reaching every worker, at every life stage. That's when we create real opportunity and resilience.'
What set the Muscat symposium apart was not only its high-level international engagement but its courage to challenge old models, openness to experimentation, and collective drive to reimagine systems that are equitable, inclusive and future-proof.
Throughout the symposium, a recurring theme was the need to embrace digital transformation to enhance the efficiency, transparency and accessibility of social protection systems. Experts shared success stories of digital platforms streamlining benefit delivery, improving data management and reducing administrative costs.
