Haidar: Lebanon Working to Address Challenges Through Reform

Minister of Labor Muhammad Haidar chaired the Arab seminar organized by the Arab Social Security Association under the theme "Financial Sustainability of Social Security Systems in Facing Challenges and Shocks," attended by officials and experts from Arab social security and insurance institutions.

The seminar included participation from Mr. Sami Abd El-Hadi, Deputy Chairman of the Egyptian National Social Security Authority, Mr. Islam Sena, Advisor to the Director-General of the Arab Labour Organization, Dr. Muhammad Karki, Executive Director of the Arab Social Security Association, along with representatives from social security and insurance institutions, experts, and specialists.

In his speech at the seminar, Haidar affirmed that Lebanon's presence underscores the importance of joint Arab efforts and the exchange of experiences in social protection, noting that challenges facing social security systems across Arab countries—regardless of their size or nature—share many common aspects, necessitating greater cooperation, knowledge sharing, and experience exchange.

He praised the Arab Social Security Association’s role over more than twelve years through seminars, conferences, studies, and specialized programs, pointing out that Lebanon has benefited from numerous recommendations and experiences shared by the association, particularly in retirement, social security fund investment, and enhancing benefits and services for insured individuals.

He stated that Lebanon views this collaboration as a pathway toward building stronger social security institutions capable of responding to present and future needs, reaffirming that the Ministry of Labor oversees and guides the National Social Security Fund’s operations, aiming to position it among leading institutions, thereby strengthening its role in providing social protection to citizens, workers, and their families.

Haidar discussed Lebanon’s progress in this area, noting that in the health sector, health benefits have been gradually increased, bringing coverage levels close to pre-crisis standards, alongside the introduction of new medical procedures and the adoption of a new medical services schedule after the previous one remained unchanged for over 25 years, failing to keep pace with medical and therapeutic advancements.

In the social protection domain, he highlighted the implementation of the Retirement and Social Protection Law enacted at the end of 2023, noting the appointment of a new board of directors for the National Social Security Fund after more than 25 years—a move he described as foundational to revitalizing the institution’s role, improving governance, and modernizing its operational mechanisms.

He added that work continues to complete the necessary decrees and procedures for law implementation, while currently establishing an Investment Committee and its executive body, ensuring transparent and clear management and investment of social security funds, thus safeguarding insured individuals’ assets and enhancing the fund’s long-term sustainability.

Additionally, Haidar announced that the Ministry of Labor is actively working on enacting legislation to establish an unemployment insurance system, considering it a core component of the social protection framework, emphasizing that worker protection should extend beyond employment periods to include transitional phases resulting from job loss or economic conditions.

He also addressed digital transformation, affirming ongoing efforts to adopt a comprehensive automation and digitalization plan for the social security institution, aimed at accelerating citizen transactions, reducing administrative burdens, enhancing transparency, and improving data and service management.

Haidar stressed that economic and financial crises, demographic shifts, changes in labor market dynamics, and technological advancement compel countries to continuously reassess their social protection systems, underscoring Lebanon’s commitment to addressing these challenges through reform, institutional development, and building a more sustainable social security system.

He concluded by reaffirming Lebanon’s openness to Arab experiences and continued cooperation with the Arab Labour Organization, the Arab Social Security Association, and other international institutions, emphasizing that sustainable social protection is a shared responsibility requiring cooperation, integration, and experience exchange among Arab nations.

The Cairo-based seminar covered several themes related to the sustainability of social security systems, including economic and demographic changes, the digital economy and labor market transformations, governance and transparency, investment challenges and risks, best policies and strategies for financial sustainability, and regional and international experiences in this field, according to the seminar program provided. The event aims to empower Arab social security and insurance institutions to confront challenges and shocks, mitigate their impacts, and foster practical recommendations through experience exchange.