KATHMANDU, Nepal (ILO News) - ILO Country Offices for Thailand, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka recently organized a learning visit from 30 May - 2 June 2023 to Bangkok, Thailand for delegates from Nepal, India and Sri Lanka to facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building through exchanges with the Social Security Office in Bangkok and ILO experts.

Building strong institutional capacity is a key priority under the ILO’s support for the development of effective and inclusive social protection systems. As part of the ILO’s capacity-building initiatives for key stakeholders on social security systems, the delegation comprised of senior officials from India and Sri Lanka and a tripartite delegation including government officials, an employer’s representative, and a worker’s representative from Nepal.

The visit included opportunities for discussion on social protection systems including technical sessions with Social Security Office (SSO) of Thailand and ILO experts. The visit benefited from discussions and interactions with SSO’s Director of Policy and Planning Division, Mrs Niyada Seneemanomai, Social Security Specialists, Mr Sathit Theerawat, Mr Tepparat Wongcharoenwanakij, and Mrs Nantapan Yuanjai, as well as Senior Social Security Officers, Ms Jaturapat Promrak, Ms Porruetai Sukontanant, Mr Phanuphat Yimphong, and Mis Sukumal Sommart on the Thailand’s social protection system, and SSO’s experiences with social security administration and processes; investments and risk management; and strategies for the extension of contribution-based social security for workers in the informal sector.

In her welcome speech, Mrs Seneemanomai mentioned that exchanging experiences are an important part of strengthening social security schemes. Likewise, Mr Kapil Mani Gyawali, Executive Director of the Social Security Fund (SSF) and Head of the Nepalese delegation also emphasized the need for such exchanges within the region and its positive impact on strengthening the capacity of staff to improve service delivery and increase social security coverage in Nepal.

The learning visit was jointly supported by the European Union’s Enhancing Social Protection System: Towards Investments for Results in Nepal Project; technical support to ESIS for improving and expanding access to health care services in India – A transition to formality supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; and development of social insurance-based unemployment insurance scheme in Sri Lanka supported by the Government of Japan.