GPSSA participates in meeting with Heads of Gulf Pensions and Social Security authorities

The meeting, which is being held from 8-9 December, will discuss a report produced by the General Secretariat of the GCC which discusses the advantages and disadvantages of extending social security coverage to GCC expatriate workers within GCC member countries.

Two options were put forward in a resolution issued by the GCC's Higher Council in this respect. The first option would provide social security for the self-employed and expatriate GCC citizen workers by providing coverage through a comprehensive system similar to the current system of the beneficiary's country.

The second option would involve a Collective Social Security Fund which would cover expatriate workers in the GCC, in which Labour and Finance Ministers would choose an appropriate method for implementing the system in addition to sourcing funding.

Mr. Sultan Al Gaith, General Manager of the GPSSA and Head of the Delegation, said: 'During the second meeting of Heads of Gulf Pensions and Social Security authorities held in October 2002 in Abu Dhabi, a special commission was requested to research the two options and present its recommendations regarding the advantages and drawbacks of both options after finalizing its findings.'

Al Gaith added: 'The commission recommended that each member country has to extend social security coverage to its citizens working in a GCC member country. This remains optional for all citizens for a one-year period starting January 2005 in order to avoid technical and administrative difficulties. However, full implementation of the system is compulsory as of January 2006.'

Additionally, the commission recommended GCC countries revisit their pensions and social security policies with a view to identifying outstanding issues that stand in the way of a comprehensive and unified social security and pensions policy for all member countries. The unified system is due to be put into practice at the end of 2010 in compliance with the resolution of the Higher Council.

The GPSSA's objective is to provide social security for all expatriate citizens in line with its efforts to provide a secure lifestyle for all UAE nationals, regardless of their location. 'Many UAE nationals are expatriates workers or self-employed, and are equally in need of financial security post employment.' Al Gaith added.

The GPSSA is constantly striving, in line with the directives of HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to provide the best quality of service to the UAE nationals with the aim of continually raising the standard of their professional environment and thereby promoting the country regionally.

Al Gaith also added that the meeting would discuss all the issues and recommendations put forward to the Council from member countries to make decisions and plan their implementation in the upcoming meetings.