BEIJING, Sept 19: Delegates from Pakistan, China and 149 other countries who attended the 28th general assembly session of International Social Security Association held here have pledged to work together to tackle social security issues and improve the living conditions of the working class.

In a joint declaration adopted at the end of the conference on Sunday, they decided to evolve a joint strategy to overcome some major social security issues. Pakistan was represented by a three-member delegation led by Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Secretary Mohammad Humayun Farshori.

The assembly was attended by 1,300 foreign delegates. It discussed the recent trends of social security, social protection for migrant workers and their families, investment of social security funds and other issues.

It was agreed that a high priority would be attached to issues such as extension of social security coverage, implementation of unemployment programmes and administration of disability and health insurance schemes.

Mr Farshori told APP that he hoped that the experience gained from the conference would help in formulating and revising the policies for improving the lot of the labour community.

He said the delegation had held meetings with the participants from other countries. "As a follow up of the conference, the countries will try to develop guidelines for investment of social security funds and a procedure for their risk management and enhance the viability and sustainability of the schemes to provide larger coverage to the working class," he said.

During the delegation's meeting with Chinese Labour and Social Security Vice-Minister Liu Yongfu, Beijing decided to help Pakistan improve its vocational training system and upgrade its manpower resources.

It was agreed that the two countries would cooperate in manpower training and strengthening of the social security system for achieving better results in terms of industrial productivity. -APP