The challenges and opportunities of ASEAN social security institutions in the Industry 4.0, as well as the free flow of labour are both high on the agenda for the ongoing 35th ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA) Board Meeting in Nha Trang city, in the central province of Khanh Hoa.
Assoc. Prof. Dr.Tran Dinh Thien, former head of the Vietnam Economics Institute, said that global digital connection through the Internet and other smart tools has opened up many chances for people to increase their general income, however, high risks are unavoidable.
In particular, cyber security risks and social security challenges are two pressing issues as the influx of new technology may cause the destruction of some especially manual jobs, it will also create further employment that requires new skills be learnt, he said.
“The requirements and conditions for renovation to social insurance activities will become vigorous and urgent,” Thien said.
He suggested that Vietnam formulate a digital transformation strategy and manage the system intelligently, adding that“the country shoulddevelopdigitally-linked infrastructure and cyber security and create digital human resources.”
Talking about the opportunities and challenges of the social security system in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Jens Schremmer, Head of the Office of the Secretary General of the International Social Security Association, said that Industry 4.0 will help promote social security, including expanding social insurance coverage.
However, the digital economy will also create new jobs which will affect the traditional ones, thus creating gaps in social security coverage and cyber security protection, he added.
“Social security institutions will make the difference,” he said, stressing the need to shape social security for tomorrow’s society.
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April 24–25, 2026
Kinh Bac Cultural Center, Bac Ninh Province
Vietnamese
